DETROIT – Ford is recalling approximately 2 million F-150 trucks due to a potential fire risk.
ORIGINAL STORY: Ford recalls 2 million F-150 trucks for potential fire risk
The F-150 is the best-selling vehicle in the country, and now Ford is going to spend millions of dollars to retrofit and replace problematic parts that can cause a potential fire risk.
The problem was discovered in Michigan after a driver struck a deer outside Grand Rapids. The airbags were deployed, and sometime later, the driver started to smell smoke. The workings of a seat belt caught fire and burned the floor carpet.
Ford is replacing the seatbelt parts and insulating it with fireproof materials.
"I think it's $140 million," said analyst Michelle Krebs, "which is significant, but that is not their biggest problem."
Moody's Investor Service downgrading its debt to just above junk and Wall Street's deep concerns about the company's direction are the big issues.
"(Former Ford CEO) Alan Mulally was clear about what the direction was and everyone marched in that direction," Krebs said. "I think what (Ford CEO) Mr. Hackett needs to do is (indicate) what's the clear direction and getting the troops marching -- I don't think he's at that stage yet."
Jim Hackett became the CEO of Ford Motor Company in May 2017 and is executing a turnaround. Krebs says while Ford is in no way in trouble like it was in 2008, the good old days appear to be ending.
"There are some very tough decisions that Ford has to make, and it will be painful for some people," Krebs said.
Here's the info from Ford:
Ford is issuing a recall for approximately 2 million select 2015-18 Ford F-150 Regular Cab and SuperCrew Cab vehicles in North America for driver and front passenger seat belt pretensioners.
Ford’s investigation found that some front seat belt pretensioners can generate excessive sparks when they deploy. When sufficient sparks are present, gases exhausted inside the lower portion of the B-pillar by the pretensioners may ignite. If this gas ignites, components behind the B-pillar such as insulation and carpet may subsequently catch fire.
Ford is aware of 17 reports of smoke or fire in the United States and six in Canada. Ford is not aware of any accidents or injuries as a result of this condition.
Affected vehicles include:
- 2015-18 Ford F-150 vehicles built at Dearborn Assembly Plant, March 12, 2014 through Aug. 23, 2018
- 2015-18 Ford F-150 vehicles built at Kansas City Assembly Plant, Aug. 20, 2014 through Aug. 23, 2018
There are approximately 1,995,776 vehicles in North America relating to this concern, with 1,619,112 vehicles in the United States and its federalized territories, 339,884 in Canada and 36,780 in Mexico. The Ford reference number for this recall is 18S27.
Dealers will remove insulation material from the B-pillar trim, remove remnants of wiring harness tape in the B-pillar area, and apply heat-resistant tape to the carpet and its insulation. Dealers also will modify the back interior panels of Regular Cab vehicles. All repairs will be provided at no cost to customers.