Ford Recalls Nearly 43,000 SUVs Due to Gas Leaks

Ford has recalled nearly 43,000 SUVs due to car leaks. However, the company’s remedy will not fix the underlying problem.

Documents filed with U.S. safety regulators state that fuel injectors on some Ford SUVs can crack, and gasoline or vapor can accumulate near ignition sources, possibly causing fires. However, the company’s intended remedy does not fix the fuel leak problem. Instead, according to NBC News, dealers will implement a tube to divert gasoline away from hot surfaces and toward the ground beneath the vehicle. Additionally, they will enhance the engine control software to detect any pressure drop in the fuel injection system.

The Ford recall covers certain Bronco Sport SUVs from the 2022 and 2023 model years and Escape SUVs from 2022. A letter from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration explains the problem further.

It reads, “A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source such as hot engine or exhaust components, can increase the risk of a fire. Dealers will update the engine control software to include fuel injector leak detection and install a drain tube, free of charge.”

The safety recall documents claim that liquid fuel and fuel vapor accumulating near a sufficiently hot surface, below the combustion initiation flame speed, may ignite, resulting in an under-hood fire. This can substantially increase the risk of injury to the vehicle’s operator.

Ford describes the root cause of the issue as a cracked fuel injector in the engine, which allows fuel to leak at a high rate into the cylinder head. This leakage can travel through a drain hole and onto hot surfaces on the exhaust and turbo system.

Therefore, not only can a fire occur, but a fuel odor can be found both inside and outside the vehicle. Subsequently, fire can erupt from the engine compartment or the underbody of the car. So far, Ford has reported “five under-hood fires and 14 warranty replacements of fuel injectors,” but there have been no reported crashes or injuries.

Ford said in a statement that it is not replacing the damaged fuel injectors. The company believes the repairs done during the recall “will prevent the failure from occurring and protect the customer.” The new software will also trigger a dashboard warning light and allow customers to drive to a safe location, stop the vehicle, and arrange for service.

Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed in April 2024. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford’s number for this recall is 24S16. This recall is an expansion of the previous recall number 22V-859.