Ford $F ( ▲ 1.6% ) was dealt another blow in its efforts to address its warranty woes—with a recall of nearly 274,000 of its full-size SUVs.
The details: According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), an installation defect that puts the front-brake lines in contact with the engine air cleaner outlet pipe could cause a brake fluid leak or the brakes to malfunction.
The recall covers 223,315 Ford Expeditions and 50,474 Lincoln Navigators between model years 2022 and 2024.
Ford only expects 1% of the vehicles recalled to have the faulty installation defect, according to reports.
There haven’t been any reports of any accidents or injuries tied to the recall, according to Ford—but NHTSA reports reveal that the automaker received 45 warranty reports of front brake line leaks as of April 17. Dealers were expected to be notified by Wednesday of the call back—with letters being mailed to vehicle owners between May 26 to May 30.
Why it matters: Recalls not only eat away at Ford’s profits; they also can have a major impact on the brand’s overall image, directly impacting sales of models not even associated with the call backs.
Between the lines: Ford’s recall issues continue to mount—with this being the second recall of Explorers and Navigators in less than a month.
In April, the automaker recalled 30,200 Expeditions, and 5,673 Navigators from the 2017 and 2018 model years, for a brake issue.
The April recall also included 87,738 Ford F-150 pickups stemming from a faulty brake master cylinder that could lead to a brake failure.
In 2024, Ford had more than 60 vehicle recalls, promoting several changes to address the $4.8 billion a year issue.
Ford CEO Jim Farley has been working to address the company’s costly recall issues—with several initiatives put in place in 2024, from a “build-and-hold” approach during production to put the vehicles through a more rigorous quality check to the appointment of a new head of quality and other leadership role changes.
What they’re saying: The leadership changes will enable Ford’s teams to "collaborate and work more efficiently to deliver exciting vehicles and software with the highest levels of quality for our customers." Ford Spokesperson (via Detroit Free Press).
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