Ford Recalls 1.3 Million Vehicles For Safety Issues

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Ford Recalls 1.3 Million Vehicles For Safety Issues

Another day, another car recall involving America's second biggest automaker, Ford.

The company issued a recall that has been two years in the making, and it is expected to affect at least 1.3 million vehicles in North America, including the Unites States, Canada and Mexico.

Time Magazine

Back in 2015, Ford's popular F-150 pickup trucks were found to have safety issues after the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration received multiple complaints. However, it wasn't until this week that the car maker decided to take the necessary steps to solve the problem.

According to federal law, a manufacturer must notify the NHTSA within five business days of discovering a safety problem or it will face a fine. It's unclear where Ford stands with the law at the moment, but the recall notice is the first step in this complicated process.

"We take the safety of our customers very seriously. Our decisions are driven by the data available," explained Ford spokeswoman Elizabeth Weigandt in an email to Forbes. When the data indicates a safety recall is needed, we move quickly on behalf of our customers."

So which models are affected?

The recall affects 2015 to 2017 models of F-150 pickup trucks as well as 2017 Ford Super Duty vehicles.

According to reports, these vehicles have faulty door latches which prevents the vehicle from either opening or closing properly. This may be caused by "a frozen door latch or a bent or kinked actuation cable."

Ford warns that even if a faulty door eventually opens or closes, it may still be unsafe to drive in those conditions.

"The door may appear closed, but the latch may not fully engage the door striker with the potential that the door could open while driving, increasing the risk of injury," read the press release.

Edmunds

In the complaints received by the NHTSA, owners described the scary incidents where their truck doors opened while the vehicle was in motion. In one instance, the door flew open while the car was in traffic, and refused to remain closed even after the driver tried to lock it.

Thankfully, Ford confirmed that no injuries have been reported.

The company will soon begin notifying owners of the affected vehicles so dealers can add water shields to the door latches.

Are you or someone you know affected by this recall? Let us know!

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