Ford is facing two new investigations from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The NHTSA is investigating previous recalls of the Ford Expedition/Lincoln Navigator and Bronco Sport to determine whether the earlier actions were sufficient to fix the vehicles’ problems.
The NHTSA is evaluating the February 2024 recall of some 2019 and 2020 Expeditions and 2018-2020 Navigators, which addressed a seatbelt tensioner problem that could cause a sudden tightening and locking of the seatbelts. The NHTSA has received three complaints about the problem from owners whose vehicles were excluded from the recall, prompting the investigation.
The Bronco Sport recall also impacted some Ford Maverick models and was intended to correct a loss of power related to the 12-volt battery degrading. Ford’s fix involves a software update, but the NHTSA said it received at least 15 reports of the problem from owners whose vehicles were fixed under the recall.
The government recently fined Ford up to $165 million for its failure to comply with federal recall requirements. The automaker was slow to recall vehicles for a defective rearview camera and failed to deliver complete and timely information about the recall.
Ford was the most recalled automaker in 2023 and has long promised a renewed focus on quality to correct its issues. Earlier this year, CEO Jim Farley expressed regret for not having addressed the issues sooner, and the company’s stock has taken a beating as its warranty repair costs have climbed.
[Images: Ford Motor Company]
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Source: The Truth About Cars
