Ford Recalls 1.4 Million Autos for Power Steering Problems

Ford Motor Co. has issued two vehicle recalls related to complaints about power steering problems that can cause an accident. The company announced the vehicle recalls on Thursday, May 29th.

The larger of the two vehicle recalls covers 915,216 Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner SUVs from model years 2008 through 2011. Reportedly, a defect can turn the power steering off, increasing the risk of a crash as the vehicle becomes harder to steer.

The second vehicle recall involves 195,527 Ford Explorers model years 2011 through 2013. An intermittent electrical problem can cause the power steering to turn off and force manual steering on, making it harder to steer which can lead to an accident.

Ford said that between the two vehicle recalls the company is aware of 5 low-speed crashes and 6 injury allegations related to the problem. The two million vehicle recall covers 1.1 million SUVs in the United States.

The automobile manufacturer issued two additional smaller vehicle recalls on Thursday, for reasons other than power steering complaints. The company is recalling 196,639 Taurus Sedans in the 2010 through 2014 model years, because a problem with the license plate lamp assembly can lead to a potential fire hazard. The license plate area is susceptible to corrosion, especially from road salt in areas that receive large amounts of snow. Ford stated that it is aware of 18 reports of fire and 5 reports of smoke or melting, and one minor injury  which occurred when a driver tried to put out the fire with their hand.

The fourth vehicle recall covers 82,579 Ford Fusions, Mercury Milans, Lincoln Zephyrs, and MKZs from model years 2006 to 2011. The reason for this Ford recall is that the weatherproof floor mat can shift out of position and interfere with the accelerator pedal. The company has not stated anything about injuries or crashes related to the floor mat problem.

“Consumers impacted by the recalls should have their vehicles serviced promptly once they receive notification from Ford,” the agency said in a statement.

Karl Brauer, senior analyst at Kelley Blue Book, said the Ford recall “could be driven by the heightened sense of concern all automakers are feeling right now, though we’ll likely never know for sure. I do think manufacturers are more willing to issue a recall at this point because their sheer number in recent months has become a sort of background white noise for consumers.”

The Strom Law Firm Can Help with Defective Products and Vehicle Recall Cases

If you have experienced a problem with a defective product in your automobile, especially if a defective part has led to an auto accident or personal injury, and a proper vehicle recall notice has not been issued, you may be entitled to compensation. The attorneys at the Strom Law Firm can help. We can help you with complicated auto insurance claims, and make sure you receive the compensation you deserve to help you with lost income and medical bills. Our attorneys are licensed to practice in South Carolina, Georgia, and New York. We offer free, confidential consultations to discuss the facts of your case, so contact us today at (803) 252-4800.