Ford Recalls Half-A-Million Vehicles For Brake, Spring, And Starter Issues

The Ford Motor Co. has issued three safety recalls involving as many as half-a-million vehicles ranging from SUVs to Ford F-150 pickups. The recalls involve brake issues, coil springs, and vehicle starters.

First Recall Involves 2015-2018 SUVs

In the biggest recall involving 2015-18 Ford Edge SUVs and 2016-18 Lincoln MKX SUVs, the vehicles reportedly have a noticeable brake hose jounce that could rupture the front brake hose that may, in turn, lead to a progressive brake fluid leak.

According to the automaker, if the rupture causes the brake fluid to fall below a certain level in the brake reservoir, the brake fluid warning light will come on.

When this happens, the driver may experience an increase in brake pedal travel, together with a reduction in the rate of deceleration, increasing the risk of a crash.

The automaker says there are 488,594 in the U.S. and its territories, 62,876 in Canada, and 7,140 in Mexico.

Vehicles Built At Oakville Assembly Plant

The automaker built the affected vehicles at the Oakville Assembly Plant from June 25, 2014, to Dec 21, 2017. The vehicles involved were Ford Edge SUVs. The automaker built the Lincoln MKX SUVs at Oakville from Nov 11, 2014-Dec. 21, 2017.

Dealers will inspect and replace the front brake hoses affected by the jounce for free. The manufacturer uses a revised brake hose braid material.

Ford has hard of no injuries or accidents regarding this problem. The Ford reference number is 20S42.

or Second Recall Involves 2020 Lincoln Corsairs

In the second recall, Ford has recalled 2020 Lincoln Corsair models to fix rear coil spring problems.

According to the manufacturer, vehicles may not have enough clearance between the left and right coil springs and the toe link bracket. This could, in turn, allow the spring and bracket to touch, possibly wearing the protective coating on the coil spring.

Over time, corrosion due to the removal of the protective coating may reduce the full life of the spring and could result in a fracture of the spring.

A fractured rear coil spring may separate from the vehicle and cause a potential road hazard for traffic following behind, increasing the likelihood of a crash for other vehicles.

No Reports Of Injuries Or Accidents

Ford has received no reports of accidents or injuries related to this condition.

Dealers will inspect the vehicles for proper clearance between the toe link bracket and the rear coil spring. If needed, the toe link bracket will be trimmed, and a new coil spring will be installed.

Nearly a total of 3,000 affected vehicles are located in the U.S. with another 491 in Canada and 141 in Mexico. Ford built the affected vehicles at the Louisville Assembly Plant from Jan 7 to Oct 21, 2019.

The Ford recall’s Ford reference number is 20S41.

Third Recall Involves Ford F-150s

In the third recall, which involves 431 2020 Ford F-150 pickups, an improperly attached nut, used to fasten the positive battery cable (B+) to the starter motor, may not provide a secure connection to the starter. Or, the starter motor may not have conductive properties for proper operation.

The issue may increase the possibility of heat generation during starting. It could also lead to electrical arcing, possibly leading to a fire.

Dealers will replace the starter motor B+ power supply attachment nut to solve this problem. Ford has not received any reports of fires, accidents, or injuries related to this condition.

The vehicles were built at the Kansas City Assembly Plant from June 30 to July 1, 2020. The Ford reference number is 20S40.

Marc Stern has been an auto writer since 1971. It was a position that filled two boyhood dreams: One was that I would write, and two that I write about cars. When I took over as my newspaper's auto editor, I began a 32-year career as an automotive columnist. There isn't much on four wheels that I haven't driven or reviewed. My work has appeared in Popular Mechanics, Mechanix Illustrated, AutoWeek, SuperStock, Trailer Life, Old Cars Weekly, Special Interest Autos, and others. Today, I am the Ford F150 reporter for Torque News. I write how-to and help columns for online sites such as Fixya.com and others. You can follow me on Twitter or Facebook. Most of Marc's stories can be found at Torque News Ford coverage. Check back again and search for Torque News Ford F-150 news for more F-150 truck news coverage.