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Even as the year changed from 2023 to 2024, Ford faced a new National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) as the automaker continued its program of recalls, some of which may have dated to last year.
Ford Leads The Industry In Recalls Again
In 2023, Ford had the dubious distinction of leading the auto industry in recalls for the third year. In a way, the fact that Ford led the industry in recalls was good because it showed customers that the automaker put customer safety first with the number of recalls recorded.
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And it looks like Ford may be on the way to another record-breaking year as it has begun the new year with yet another recall. This time, Ford has recalled its “nifty 1.0-liter EcoBoost engine, “says Motor1.com. Indeed, the automaker has issued a recall “for certain 2018-2022 EcoSport and 2016-2018 Focus models equipped with the three-cylinder engine and the 6F15 automatic transmission.”
The problem is that a defective oil pump drive belt tensioner could result in a loss of oil pressure.
The Problem Is The Oil Belt Tensioner
Motor1, quoting the recall notice, said the “belt tensioner arm may fracture because the retention caulk joint isn’t robust enough to withstand engine vibrations. If this happens, the tensioner could separate from the backing plate and cause the belt to degrade by losing teeth.”
If this situation occurs, the “engine might experience a loss of oil pressure, which could damage” the engine, causing it to seize. If this occurs, “drivers might experience a loss of engine and braking power, which could lead to an accident, said Motor1.
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Ford is aware “of one crash” reportedly related to this issue that “injured two but is unaware of any fatalities.”
Ford announced the recall after the NHTSA opened a probe into the nearly “quarter-million EcoSport crossovers for reports of engine failure in 2018-2021 models in September.”
NHTSA Has Been Looking At This Problem
Motor1 noted that the 1.0-liter EcoBoost engines have been “under scrutiny since 2022 when” NHTSA began a probe of “issues with the Bronco.”
The agency expanded “its catastrophic engine failure probe to 700,000 Ford and Lincoln vehicles.” NHTSA is not looking at the 2.7-liter and 3.0-liter EcoBoost powerplants used in the Ford Edge, Explorer, F-150 pickup, Lincoln Nautilus, and Lincoln Aviator models.
Motor1 summed up things well when it noted that the “recall affects 139,790 EcoSport and Focus models, the two vehicles the automaker no longer offers in the U.S.
Recalls Are Ongoing Problem
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As noted, Ford led the industry in recalls for the third straight year last year. It was the most “recalled automaker” in the auto business. Ford had 54 recalls, affecting 5.7 million vehicles. The good news, if it can be called good news, is that the number of recalls is down from 68 in 2022, affecting 8.5 million vehicles.
Ford Motor Photo
Marc Stern has been an automotive writer since 1971. His automotive articles have appeared in venues including Popular Mechanics, Mechanix Illustrated, AutoWeek, SuperStock, Trailer Life, Old Cars Weekly, Special Interest Autos, and others. You can follow Marc on Twitter or Facebook.
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