WASHINGTON — U.S. auto security regulators are investigating Ford Motor Co.’s prior recall of practically 1.3 million Ford Focus sedans after new experiences of energy loss.
NHTSA’s Workplace of Defects Investigation mentioned it obtained 98 shopper complaints alleging failure of the canister purge valve in 2012-18 Focus vehicles that had been both beforehand recalled and stuck or weren’t recalled however skilled the identical concern.
In October 2018, Ford recalled greater than 1.2 million 2012-18 Focus autos with both 2.0-liter gasoline direct injection engines that had been constructed previous to April 13, 2017, or with 2.0-liter gasoline turbocharged direct injection engines constructed previous to Feb. 2, 2018.
The recall addressed a malfunctioning canister purge valve and powertrain management module software program, which was not adequately detecting the issue.
“A malfunctioning CPV can disrupt the engine’s fuel-to-air ratio resulting in lack of motive energy. It might additionally trigger a malfunction indicator mild (MIL), erratic gas gauge readings and extreme vacuum within the gas vapor administration system probably deforming the gas tank,” in accordance with a NHTSA doc detailing the investigation.
To repair the problem, sellers reprogrammed the powertrain management module and changed the canister purge valve as wanted.
Ford then issued one other recall in July 2019 overlaying about 57,000 2012-14 and 2017 Focus sedans that had been included within the 2018 recall however didn’t have the powertrain management module up to date as supposed.
The company mentioned it has opened the investigation — referred to as a “recall question” — to evaluate the scope and repair of Ford’s 2018 recall.
In a press release to Automotive Information, Ford spokesperson Maria Buczkowski mentioned the automaker is “working with NHTSA to help their investigation.”
The newest Ford probe comes after NHTSA in August mentioned it was investigating the automaker’s dealing with of a June 2022 recall of practically 50,000 Ford Mustang Mach-Es after new experiences of energy loss.
To date this 12 months, Ford has issued 44 remembers — essentially the most of any automaker — affecting greater than 4.6 million autos, in accordance with NHTSA knowledge.