30K Transit Vans, Single F-150 Join Ford Mustang Mach-E Recall Parade

There's an old gag that has made the rounds so many times it has moss growing from it but, believe it or now, it applies to Ford this week. It goes something like this "…, and the hits just keep on coming."

Really A Favorable Original Comment

Of course, the original comment was much more favorable. Indeed, the line comes from an old ad campaign pushing an old product. It likely had its birth in the much more innocent days of the 1960s. And, it is equally likely that it was pushing a Top 10 radio station back then.

However, this is a week that senior management at Ford would probably like to forget because it hasn't been a great time for The Blue Oval. Let's look at the week that was. Last week:

• Ford recalled about 50,000 Mustang Mach-Es for high-voltage problems that might melt or weld contacts shut. The Mach-E is a hyper-popular electric vehicle that has drawn raves across the board. Torque News was one of the outlets that reviewed and raved about the Mach-E a few months back.
• Ford recalled some Super Duty models because of a problem with the tire safety label being missing.
• Ford recalled about 3 million vehicles for a problem with the shifter that could result in rollaway vehicles (they don't slip into Park as they should and could roll; the quick fix is to remember to set the parking brake).
• Ford recalled many hybrid models to fix another high-voltage problem.

Automaker Getting Fixes In Place

Ford is hurrying to get the fixes in place. But now they have to add another recall to the list. This time it is a van that the automaker is calling back. The reason is apparent: if you 2022 can't see the instrument panel at night, you have a big problem. Owners of about 30,000 Transit Connect vans will receive notifications of the problem late in July. Or, to put it in more formal regulatoreze:

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2022 Transit vehicles. The Instrument Panel Cluster may not properly illuminate telltales or gauges and the speedometer and tachometer pointers."

Displays May Not Light Correctly

Because they may not light correctly, the vans don't comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 101, 102, 105, and 208. Namely, 101 covers displays directly, 102 covers shift and starter interlocks plus braking (neutral-start switch), brake systems in general (105), and 209 occupant safety.

When owners receive the notification, they can visit their dealer where the software for the ECU (engine control unit or master underhood computer) will be updated to fix the problem.

For more information, owners can contact Ford customer service at 866-436-7332. The Ford identification number is 22C11. Or, owners can contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Car Safety Hotline at 888-327-4236. Or, they can visit the safety agency's website at www.nhtsa.gov. The NHTSA identifier is 22V415.

Ford Recalls 1 Pickup

Meantime, Ford has issued another recall, this time for one pickup. It is a testament to the automaker's customer service that a total recall has been issued for the F-150 pickup. The problem is with the gas tank's strapping which the automaker will fix free of charge.
Photo courtesy Ford Motor Co.

Marc Stern has been an automotive writer since 1971 when an otherwise normal news editor said, "You're our new car editor," and dumped about 27 pounds of auto stuff on my desk. I was in heaven as I have been a gearhead from my early days. As a teen, I spent the usual number of misspent hours hanging out at gas stations Shell and Texaco (a big thing in my youth) and working on cars. From there on, it was a straight line to my first column for the paper, "You Auto Know," an enterprise I handled faithfully for 32 years. Not many people know that I also handled computer documentation for a good part of my living while writing YAN. My best writing, though, was always in cars. My work has appeared in Popular Mechanics, Mechanix Illustrated, AutoWeek, SuperStock, Trailer Life, Old Cars Weekly, Special Interest Autos, etc. You can follow me on: Twitter or Facebook.