Recently, Ford has once again added five lakh SUVs to its recall list. On June 16, the company announced two recalls for two separate problems involving the rear seat. It seems that Ford is committed to remain in the discussion for the recall even in 2025.
Ford has already recalled more than a million vehicles this year, and it's now moving toward another million. The company has filed a total of 78 recalls this year. For comparison, its closest rivals, such as Stellantis and Volkswagen, have only 15 on recall.
The first recall affects 130,462 Ford Explorer and Lincoln Aviator models. These are 2020 to 2025 model year vehicles. The problem is due to improper placement of the bezel (plastic enclosure) around the switch of the easy-to-turn seat on the outer seats of the second row.
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It may not sound dangerous to hear that seats sometimes get stuck or stuck. But Ford says that "this stalling or trapping can cause the seat to suddenly open, turn, and/or slide, possibly while driving." Ford also pointed out that "sudden twisting or sliding of the seat while driving can increase the risk of injury, especially in a crash."
When Ford investigated this first problem, it found 100 reports of "unwanted" movement of the second-row seat while driving. However, Ford is not aware of any accident or injury related to this issue. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's (NHTSA) Office of Defects Investigation contacted Ford about the two Vehicle Owner Questionnaires (VOQs), prompting Ford's Critical Concern Group (CCRG) to launch an investigation.
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Solving this problem is easy. Owners who will be notified will take their vehicle to the dealership for inspection. The bezels will either be reapplied correctly, or if they are missing or damaged, the dealer will replace them. All of this is free to our customers. Dealers have already been notified, and notification to customers is scheduled to begin on June 23 and be completed by June 27.
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The second recall affects 197,432 Mustang Mach-E EVs, which are from the 2021 to 2025 model years. The rear seat passengers in these cars can get locked inside the car if the battery is depleted. This happens because the electronic door locks do not work without electricity.
This voltage drop happens after the cart is stopped, and it happens so quickly that there is not enough time. Various powertrain modules have been blamed for this problem. The issue was identified through six vehicle owner questionnaires, two of which owners told Ford that their children were locked inside the vehicle. Fortunately no one was harmed in the incident.
The affected owners will now be contacted. The two-part program will be updated at their nearest Ford or Lincoln dealership. These components are the powertrain control module and the secondary on-board diagnostic control module C. The updated software will make sure that the 12V support remains for 12 minutes after the key is removed, so that there is no locking event.
Also, if the inside handle is used during this time period, the locks on the front door will open, allowing anyone trapped inside to exit. The resolution action is planned to take place between September and October this year. Owners can already check their VINs to see if their car is affected.
Ford's numerous recalls and frequent trips to the dealership affect customers' trust in their vehicles, and a kind of image begins to form. For example, in May, 223,315 Ford Explorer and Lincoln Aviator cars were recalled for a serious brake problem. However, Ford estimates that only one percent of the vehicles in this latest brake recall will have this defect.
However, it is important to understand that recalls are not always a direct indication of a vehicle's reliability. Often, automakers make recalls in advance to prevent problems from occurring. Ford has been working hard to improve quality control, and the company cites this as the reason behind so many recalls this year, many of which were recalls to fix previous recalls.
Source: NHTSA
