DETROIT (AP) — The U.S. government's Motor Vehicle Safety Administration has launched a recall investigation into Ford Motor Co. over a gasoline leak from a crack in a fuel injector that could cause an engine fire, writing in a statement that remedies do not fix the leak. Stated.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said in a document released Friday that the investigation will “evaluate the appropriateness and safety impact of the remedies” Ford specified in the recall.
The agency moved with unusual speed, releasing a document detailing the “recall inquiry” just two days after the recall was announced.
The recall applies to approximately 43,000 2022 and 2023 Ford Bronco Sport SUVs, as well as 2022 Escape SUVs, all of which are equipped with 1.5-liter engines.
NHTSA said the fuel injectors could crack, allowing gasoline and vapors to leak at high speed onto hot surfaces in the engine compartment.
The Associated Press reported Wednesday that Ford's remedies for the leak are the addition of a drain tube to keep gas away from hot surfaces and a software update to detect pressure drops in the fuel injection system. In that case, the software disables the high-pressure fuel pump, reduces engine power, and lowers the temperature in the engine compartment. Owners will also receive a “Please Call for Service” message.
But the U.S. announced Friday that Ford's fix would allow fuel to drain through a hole in the cylinder head to the ground beneath the vehicle. “Recall remedies do not include replacing cracked fuel injectors,” the agency said.
Ford announced Friday that it is working with NHTSA on the investigation.
The company said in a statement that there have been reports of five under-hood fires and 14 warranted fuel injector replacements, but there have been no reports of collisions or injuries.
Ford said in an email Wednesday that it will not replace the fuel injectors because it believes recall repairs “prevent failures from occurring and protect our customers.” The new software will illuminate a warning light on the dashboard, allowing customers to drive to a safe location, stop the vehicle and arrange for service, the company said. According to NHTSA documents submitted by Ford, the problem only occurs in about 1% of SUVs.
The company also said it will extend warranty coverage for cracked fuel injectors to ensure owners experiencing problems can get replacements. Ford says repairs are already available and extended warranty details will be announced in June.
Ford says this recall is an extension of a 2022 recall for the same issue. The repairs had already been tested on vehicles involved in the previous recall, and Ford said it was not aware of any problems.
The company also said it does not recommend parking SUVs only outdoors because there is no evidence that fires occur when the vehicle is parked and the engine is off.
In a 2022 recall involving approximately 522,000 Bronco Sport and Escape vehicles, NHTSA said in a statement that Ford provided the same remedies as the most recent recall.
Michael Brooks, executive director of the nonprofit Center for Auto Safety, called Ford's fuel leak remedy a “Band-Aid recall” and said the company was trying to avoid the cost of repairing the fuel injectors.
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