Ford have been forced to recall 2.9 million automatic vehicles in the US and Canada, after reports that the parking brake might not engage properly even if the car is placed in ‘park’. The National Highway Safety Administration says it has received 6 reports of property damage and a further 4 reports of injuries potentially related to the fault.
The list of affected vehicles includes Ford C-Max vehicles from model years 2013-18, Edges from 2015-18, Escapes from 2013-19, Fusions from 2013-16, and the Transit Connect from 2013-21 – according to the filing with the NHSA.
The company hasn’t confirmed the exact cause of the problem, but an investigation suggests that changes in temperature and humidity could cause materials to fail. Ford estimates 1% of all vehicles recalled will have the defect. Dealers will replace the under-hood shift bushing and add a protective cap in order to rectify the issue. The new parts will be manufactured from a different grade material.
This is Ford’s fifth recall based on similar issues since 2018. The company previously recalled about 1.4 million vehicles worldwide in an earlier shift cable part recall.
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