“Rollaway” Risk Results in Recall of Ford Fusion, Escape Vehicles

Ford Motor Company is recalling of more than a half million vehicles, due to a risk that they may “rollaway,” moving out of position even after they are placed in park, which can pose a serious risk to occupants and bystanders. 

The Ford recall was announced in a statement issued on July 18, impacting certain Ford Escape SUVs and Ford Fusion vehicles, which may have a defective shifter cable that may degrade and detach from the transmission, allowing the gear to unexpectedly shift out of the park position.

If the cable detaches, when the car is placed into gear, it may appear it is actually in a different gear. This may lead the driver to think the car is in a different gear than it actually is in. For instance, a driver may think they placed the vehicle into park, when it is actually in neutral. If the car is in neutral it may roll from the parking location.

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Ford indicates it has not received any reports of accidents, injuries or deaths linked to the problem, but similar “rollaway” risks associated with other automobiles have been linked to several severe injuries and deaths in recent years.

The recall affects model year 2014 Ford Fusion vehicles built at its Flat Rock Assembly Plant from June 18, 2013 to September 15, 2013; 2014-16 Ford Fusion vehicles built at the same plant from June 2, 2014 to August 31, 2015; 2013-14 Ford Fusion vehicles built at its Hermosillo Stamping and Assembly Plant from June 2, 2014 to August 31, 2015; and 2013-14 Ford Escape vehicles built at the Louisville Assembly Plant from May 15, 2013 to September 15, 2013.

The recall is similar to one issued by Ford in April, which affected nearly 350,000 Ford Expedition SUVs and F-150 trucks for a similar gear shift problem. This recall involved a gear cable clip that did not engage properly; however, it posed the same rollaway hazard.

Other car makers have also issued recalls in recent months due to rollaway problems. In February, Dodge recalled 180,000 Ram pickup trucks due to transmission problems that caused rollaways.

Similarly, Chrysler recalled nearly 250,000 Pacifica minivans after a problem was discovered with the manual park release plug, also posing a rollaway hazard to drivers and passages.

Chrysler was hit with a class action lawsuit over rollaway issues with Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles in July 2016. Concerns were sparked after Anton Yelchin, who played Chekov in the new Star Trek movies, died after his Jeep Grand Cherokee rolled backwards over him in his driveway, crushing him against a pillar.

After the actor’s death and publicity surrounding the Jeep Grand Cherokee rollaway problems, a class action lawsuit was filed alleging that the shifter defect was responsible for the Yelchin’s death, as well as at least 300 other accidents.

Ford recommends affected owners contact the dealership for a free repair, which will involve having the gear shifter cable bushing replaced.

Until the replacement is done, Ford suggests drivers use the parking brake in addition to placing the vehicle into the Park gear. This will help ensure the car does not move unintentionally.

For more information about the most recent Ford recall, contact Ford at 866-436-7332. The Ford recall reference number is 18S20.

2 Comments

  • OliviaJuly 31, 2020 at 8:19 pm

    I got stuck in a chicago tollway when i put my car in park to reach for the ticket. called every ford dealership from Bryant OH to Kingwood WV and no one had the piece. had to pay for it at a good mechanic, but two days later my engine seized and the car has been unstartable since. ford is claiming it was the company who did my oil change but then i ask why i was able to drive 1035+ miles from st.[Show More]I got stuck in a chicago tollway when i put my car in park to reach for the ticket. called every ford dealership from Bryant OH to Kingwood WV and no one had the piece. had to pay for it at a good mechanic, but two days later my engine seized and the car has been unstartable since. ford is claiming it was the company who did my oil change but then i ask why i was able to drive 1035+ miles from st. cloud mn to kingwood wv with no issue but ONCE AGAIN in chicago the motor freaks out and tells me i have no oil pressure?! 9k for repairs on a 2015 ford fusion that’s under 100k and i bought in 2017 with 42k from A FORD DEALERSHIP. i didn’t drive enough to use all my oil from the change and fully expected to do it again when i got home. for reference i got it changed thursday 7/9@ about 1:30pm and started the drive at 7pm the same night.

  • RoseAugust 4, 2018 at 6:56 pm

    I have a 2016 ford fusion. On May 25 2018 I put car into Park. Walked towards my office door heard a crunch sound my car was taking off backward rolling away. I chased after car tried to jump in mash break and slipped the car ran over my left leg . It has gone out of gear like that twice . I took car to Ford dealer who replaced the POWER TRAIN MODULE. Mechanic says that could be the issue. But car[Show More]I have a 2016 ford fusion. On May 25 2018 I put car into Park. Walked towards my office door heard a crunch sound my car was taking off backward rolling away. I chased after car tried to jump in mash break and slipped the car ran over my left leg . It has gone out of gear like that twice . I took car to Ford dealer who replaced the POWER TRAIN MODULE. Mechanic says that could be the issue. But car rolled away again after that. I recieved a Recall notice that the SHIFTER CABLE BUSHING needed immediate replacement . I called 3 Ford dealers and all said same thing .They do not have the parts to replace cable bushings. So I'm stuck with a car from hell. I called Ford Corporation and told gentleman what happened he seemed unconcerned said no they do not have the replacement parts he gave me a case number and that was the end of call.

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