Ford Warns Some Broncos May Have Defective Child Safety Locks
» Posted September 12, 2022 • Resources | Share This Post
Some Ford Bronco owners may want to think twice before hitting the road with kids in their cars.
Ford Motor Co recently issued a stop sale order on certain Bronco sport utility vehicles, directing dealers who have not delivered SUVs to hold off on doing so. The company said the Broncos may be equipped with defective child safety locks.
“In some of the affected vehicles, the rear door may be opened from the inside of the vehicle, despite the indication of the child safety lock in the ‘ON’ position, increasing the risk of injury to an unrestrained second-row occupant,” the company told dealers. “Before demonstrating or delivering any new in-stock vehicles involved in this recall, dealers are to inspect and if necessary, replace the rear door latch.”
The company also issued a recall for certain Bronco SUVs that have already been sold and delivered. The recall covers 2021 Broncos produced between September 2020 and December 2021, as well as 2022 Broncos built from August 2021 to April 2022.
“The right-hand rear door latch attachment locations on the door sheet metal may be out of original design specification due to a tolerance expansion at the stamping facility,” Ford said in a notice filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The snafu may cause “deformation of the latch housing and frame plate when attached to the door,” according to the company.
Ford said it planned to notify owners of covered vehicles by early July. It’s instructing owners of vehicles already delivered to take their SUVs to a local dealer for inspection and repair.
The revived Bronco has been a hot seller for Ford. Bronco sales skyrocketed in the second quarter of this year, helping Ford gain a slight bump in overall sales as many of its competitors trended in the other direction.
Car Defects and the California Lemon Law
The latest recall is a sad reminder that Ford and other carmakers still have a hard time ensuring that their vehicles are safe to drive.
In April, the company recalled roughly 345,000 vehicles, citing the risk of fires stemming from oil leaks. A month earlier, Ford announced that it was calling back 18,000 sport utility vehicles at risk of engine fires if the cars are involved in crashes.
Fortunately, Ford and other car owners in California do not have to simply wait for a recall to get a malfunctioning car fixed. The state’s lemon law gives you some important rights and options.
The lemon law requires vehicle manufacturers to perform various repairs on cars while they are under warranty. It also requires carmakers to buy back (or replace, in some cases) vehicles that they are unable to or decline to fix.
How Our Lawyers Can Help You
If you have been stuck with a defective or malfunctioning vehicle or are haggling with a car manufacturer over repairs, the California lemon lawyers at Bickel Sannipoli APC can help you fight back.
Call us at (888) 800-1983 or contact us online to speak with an attorney at our firm.
