Ford is recalling more than 2.9 million vehicles due to worries that deteriorating gearbox parts could cause cars to roll away after being put into Park (P) gear.
The recall, which was first reported by Reuters, involves multiple Ford cars from a variety of model years. The list includes the 2013-2019 Escape, 2013-2018 C-Max, 2013-2016 Fusion, 2013-2021 Transit Connect, and 2015-2018 Edge models.
A bushing that connects the shifter cable to the transmission in the recalled vehicles may deteriorate or come loose, according to a Ford recall notice submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). According to Ford, this defect’s primary cause is unknown.
Further details state that a broken or disconnected bushing could prohibit the transmission from going into the desired gear. That includes the driver selecting Park but not fully engaging it, which might result in a vehicle rolling away if the parking brake isn’t applied.
In addition to 233 NHTSA complaints, Ford reported 1,630 warranty claims for the problem. Ford revealed that at least six incidents of property damage and four injury claims are connected to the problem.
To fix the issue, Ford dealers will replace the under-hood shift bushing and add a protective cap over the shift cable bushing free of charge. Notification letters will be mailed to owners starting June 27. Owners can also contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332 and reference recall number 22S43.
Ford now has 38 recalls this year, which is the highest in the sector. In total, about 6.6 million automobiles and trucks were recalled. There have already been three recalls this week.
The first recall of this week involved almost 50,000 Mustang Mach-E electric vehicles. The issue was on a cable in the electrical system that is overheating and could result in a power outage or trouble starting the electric SUV. A software over-the-air update will be used by Ford to fix the issue.
The carmaker also announced a recall earlier today for 53,000 2021 and 2022 Broncos due to problems with the child safety locks.
