Ford Motor Co. has recently recalled thousands of 2021 Ford Expeditions and Lincoln Navigators, asking owners of 350,000 vehicles to return them to dealerships to be repaired. According to Ford, it is estimated that about 39,000 of those vehicles should be parked outside due to the chance of their engines catching fire.
Ford, a Michigan automaker, stated that it didn’t know what was causing fires in some 2021 Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator SUVs. The comments are a part of newly-released U.S. government documents.
Ford Motor Company is the second-largest U.S. automaker. The fire risk in their vehicles could be a ticking time bomb ready to go off. The fires could destroy vehicles and parts of homes before firefighters arrive.
Ford stated that the fires could occur even while the engines are shut off. There have been 16 reports of fires under the head. Fourteen of them were in rental company vehicles. The fires appear to begin at the back of the engine on the passenger side, and Ford still hasn’t developed a repair for the fires.
Ford says it is working around the clock to determine the root cause of the fires and the remedy so that customers can continue using their vehicles.
Of the 16 documented fires, 12 happened while the SUV engines were shut off. Ford is not instructing owners to stop driving their cars, but those who can’t park them outside should contact their dealer or the company.
Ford initially investigated reports of the fires on March 24. Officials said the fires seem limited to SUVs constructed from December 1, 2020, to April 30, 2021. Ford is now also recalling about 310,000 heavy-duty trucks because of defective airbags. The recalls cover 2016 F-250, 350, 450, and 550 trucks. The airbag wiring in the steering wheel can fill up with dust and disconnect the electricity. Dealers will replace the wiring in the steering wheels, and owners will be notified by mail of the defect starting on July 5.
A month ago, Ford recalled more than a quarter-million Explorer SUVs because they tended to roll away unexpectedly despite being shifted into park. In April, Ford and General Motors recalled nearly 700,000 SUVs due to windshield wiper defects.
Ford has also recalled 464 electric Mustang Mach-E SUVs from 2021, citing a software problem that can cause unintended acceleration, deceleration, or a loss of drive power. The computer in the vehicles may not detect the software error.
Ford has lost $3.1 billion in the last three months because of a chip shortage. The shortage has limited the number of vehicles available in the U.S.
How to Check If Your Vehicle Is Being Recalled
To see if your vehicle is being recalled, visit the NHTSA website. Enter your vehicle identification number (VIN). A VIN is a 17-digit number that provides a vehicle’s history.
VINs are usually located on the lower left of the windshield, but they can also be located on a vehicle registration card or insurance card.
Unfortunately, some vehicle owners will not be notified about the defects in the mail before they suffer an accident or fire. If you were injured due to a defect, the best thing you can do is contact a lawyer for help.
Damages
Substantial punitive damages might be necessary to hold the Ford Motor Company fully liable and deter it from similar product defects in the future. Punitive damages are available to punish those who are particularly egregious in their behavior and whose conduct severely harms others. When it comes to defective vehicles, automakers must always ensure that the proper steps are taken to remove dangerous vehicles from the roads. Automakers must stop making products that present a high risk of harming consumers.
Timeline for Injuries
If you or a loved one has been injured as a victim of the defective cars produced by Ford Motor Company, call an injury lawyer and obtain a free case consultation. In many cases, a personal injury lawyer will not charge a legal fee unless they succeed in getting you money.
The timeline of filing a claim for your injuries is important because statutes of limitation affect how long you have to file a claim. The statute of limitations may vary from state to state. An experienced lawyer can help explain the statute of limitations in your case.
Vehicle manufacturers must make recall information available online and free of charge for searchers. Be mindful of the statute of limitations and how it might apply to a vehicle recall case.