Ford Recalls Issued Over Fuel Leak Risks, Engine Problems

Ford has announced three separate recalls, impacting more than 400,000 vehicles, due to defective fuel and oil line components that may leak and cause unexpected engine failure and fire hazards. 

The Ford Motor Company recalls were announced on October 26, all involving customer warranty claims indicating several engine components leaked fuel or oil, causing a sudden loss of control. To date, no injuries, fires or crashes have been reported in relation to the recalled vehicles.

In the largest recall, Ford announced more than 400,000 model year 2010 through 2012 Ford Escape vehicles and 2010 through 2011 Mercury Mariner vehicles equipped with 3.0 liter engines were being recalled due to the potential for the fuel delivery module supply port to develop cracks, resulting in fuel leaks.

In the event the fuel delivery module supply port develops a crack, fuel running through the engine components could leak onto extremely hot surrounding engine components, creating a fire hazard. This scenario is extremely likely to occur while the vehicle is in motion creating an increased crash hazard.

The recalled Ford Escape models were manufactured at the Kansa City Assembly plant from February 26, 2009 to April 29, 2012, and the recalled Mercury Mariner vehicles were also manufactured at the Kansas City Assembly Plant from February 25, 2009 to December 12, 2010.

According to Ford’s press release, there are an estimated 411,663 vehicles affected by the recall, with roughly 329,018 within the United States, 69,576 in Canada, 7,477 in Mexico and 247 distributed to federalized territories.

The second series of vehicles to be recalled by Ford include 8,026 model year 2015 through 2017 Shelby GT350/R Mustangs manufactured at the Flat Rock Assembly Plant from February 24, 2015 to August 30, 2016.

The Mustang vehicles are being recalled due to insufficient crimping of the engine cooler tube assemblies hose’s that could lead to a hose separation and oil leak. If the hose separates, drivers could experience a sudden engine failure and in the presence of an ignition source the leaking fuel could pose a fire hazard.

The third series of vehicles to be recalled include an estimated 180 model year 2017 Ford Super Duty 6.7-liter diesel Chassis Cab vehicles manufactured at the Kentucky Truck Plant.

The recalled Super Duty trucks are being recalled due to inadequate adhesion of the protective shield on the fuel conditioning module that may dislodge. In this scenario road debris or water spray may force open the drain valve on the module, causing a substantial fuel leak that could result in a vehicle fire.

Ford announced approximately 170 of the impacted trucks were sold throughout the United States and an additional 12 were distributed to Canada.

Ford Motor Company announced that no accidents, injuries or fires have been reported in relation to any of the recently issued fuel leak recalls and that it is currently working on a schedule to notify owners and dealers of the issues and the course of action to remedy the recalls. Customers will be instructed to schedule a free repair appointment at their local Ford dealer to have the recalled Escape and Mariner vehicles serviced with a replacement fuel delivery module flange assembly. Customers with recalled Mustang vehicles will be given a free replacement engine cooler tube assembly, and recalled Ford Super Duty truck owners will have the vehicles fuel conditioning module bottom cover replaced with a metallic protective shield.