When the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) determines that a manufacturer has produced vehicles that have shown a defect related to safety or that does not comply with federal regulation standards, the manufacturer will be instructed to issue a recall. As required by law, the manufacturer will inform consumers who have purchased those vehicles about the issue, or set of issues and will make repairs, usually for free.
The automaker, Ford Motor Company will be issuing such a recall which affects over a quarter of a million vehicles sold in the U.S. In a story appearing on Fox10 News in Phoenix, this latest recall affects 270,000 cars from the mid-sized Ford Fusion model years 2013 – 2016 with 2.5-liter engines. Also being recalled are approximately 2,500 2019 Ford Ranger pickup trucks. The manufacturing defect causes vehicles to unexpectedly roll away even after the driver puts it in park.
So far, there has been one reported injury and three incidences of property damage directly related to the defect.
Ford said in a public statement that it intends to contact consumers who bought the vehicles by postcard to inform them when necessary parts to repair the problem are available and where to take their vehicle for repairs at no cost.
In 2018, Ford recalled 550,000 vehicles. The previous recall affected the Fusion for model years 2013 – 2016 and the company’s Escape SUV’s for model years 2013 and 2014 for a similar issue where vehicles would slip into gear while in park.
