Ford Motor Company, one of the “Big Three” automakers, announced this week that it would recall 1.1 million pickup trucks over faulty fuel tank fasteners.
The massive recall, which includes the best-selling Ford F-150 pickup trucks, will fix metal straps which fasten fuel tanks to the vehicles. The current strap could corrode and break, letting the fuel tanks fall, especially in cold weather areas affected by road salt.
Ford said that the faulty fasteners resulted in one injury, and several vehicle fires after the fuel tanks hit the ground and ruptured.
This week’s recall affects F-150, F-250, and Lincoln Blackwood vehicles dating back to as early as 1997 through 2004 for F-150 models, 1997 through 1999 for F-250 models, and 2002 and 2003 Blackwood models.
The Dearborn, Mich.-based automaker said it would begin notifying customers by mid-September and make repairs at its dealerships free of charge. In the event that dealers do not yet have the new parts, they will insert a metal cable to fasten the fuel tanks.
This latest recall is the second this year involving the Ford pickup trucks. Earlier this year Ford recalled more than 1 million vehicles, including some F-150 models, due to airbag issues.
The massive recall, which includes the best-selling Ford F-150 pickup trucks, will fix metal straps which fasten fuel tanks to the vehicles. The current strap could corrode and break, letting the fuel tanks fall, especially in cold weather areas affected by road salt.
Ford said that the faulty fasteners resulted in one injury, and several vehicle fires after the fuel tanks hit the ground and ruptured.
This week’s recall affects F-150, F-250, and Lincoln Blackwood vehicles dating back to as early as 1997 through 2004 for F-150 models, 1997 through 1999 for F-250 models, and 2002 and 2003 Blackwood models.
The Dearborn, Mich.-based automaker said it would begin notifying customers by mid-September and make repairs at its dealerships free of charge. In the event that dealers do not yet have the new parts, they will insert a metal cable to fasten the fuel tanks.
This latest recall is the second this year involving the Ford pickup trucks. Earlier this year Ford recalled more than 1 million vehicles, including some F-150 models, due to airbag issues.
