New Jersey car owners should be aware that Ford Motor Co. is recalling more than 441,000 North American vehicles over two separate defect issues. The recalls will cost Ford nearly $295 million.
The first recall involves 230,756 vehicles with 1.6-liter GTDI engines. The engines reportedly have a problem that leads to poor coolant circulation, which can crack the cylinder head and ignite a fire. At least 29 vehicle fires have been linked to the defect across the U.S. and Canada. There have been no reported injuries. Vehicles covered in the recall include the 2014 Ford Escape, 2014 and 2015 Ford Fiesta ST, 2013 and 2014 Ford Fusion and 2013 and 2015 Ford Transit Connect.
The second recall is an expansion of a previous one to fix faulty doors. A tab located in the side door latch can break, causing the door to suddenly open while the car is moving. No injuries have been reported due to the problem. The recall covers nearly 211,000 vehicles, including the 2014 Fiesta, 2013 and 2014 Fusion and 2013 and 2014 Lincoln MKZ.
Auto manufacturers have a responsibility to make their vehicles as safe as possible. Consumers who are injured due to a defective auto part may have grounds to file a products liability lawsuit against the car company and/or the manufacturer that made the part. Such a lawsuit could lead to a financial settlement that covers medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering and other damages related to the incident. To find out more about available legal remedies, injured victims could consult with a personal injury attorney.
Source: USA Today, “Ford recalls 441,000 vehicles, including Escape, Fusion,” Nathan Bomey, March 29, 2017
