Reuters- Ford Motor Co is recalling nearly 519,000 sport utility vehicles SUVs in the United States due to fire risks from possible cracked fuel injectors, and will urge owners to have their cars inspected, it said on Thursday.
The recall covers 2020 - 2023 model year Bronco Sport and Escape SUVs with 3 cylinder, 1.5 liter engines, including many recalled in April because of an oil separator housing that could crack and develop a leak that could cause an engine fire, according to 2 automaker by sales.
When engines in the SUVs covered by the latest recall are operating, a cracked fuel injector could cause fuel or fuel vapor to accumulate near hot surfaces, potentially causing a fire under the hood.
After repairs are available dealers will update vehicle software to detect if a fuel injector is cracked and provide a dashboard message to alert drivers.
If a pressure drop is detected, engine power will automatically be reduced to minimize any risk, while also allowing customers to drive to a safe location and arrange for service, Ford said.
Dealers will also install a tube draining fuel from the cylinder head and away from hot surfaces and check for excessive fuel odor near the top of the engine.
Ford said it had 54 total reports of 1.5 liter under-hood fires, including four with cracked fuel injectors. About 13 others were probably caused by a leaking fuel injector.
There isn't a death linked to the recall.
Ford said it is not telling owners to stop driving vehicles under this recall. Fuel injectors experiencing external leaks have a low failure rate, according to the company.