Ford is issuing two separate recalls for roughly 1.5 million vehicles, citing windshield wiper and brake hose defects.
The first and largest of the two recalls affects 1.3 million Ford Fusion sedans built between 2013 and 2018, along with Lincoln MKX SUVs. According to the automaker’s filings with the NHTSA, some of these models use a front brake hose which can burst and leak brake fluid, hampering the driver’s ability to stop the car in time. The brand has received reports of one non-lethal crash related to the defect. The second recall relates to 222,000 F-150 pickups built in 2021. The brand notes that the windshield wipers on these models can break.
Affected owners will be notified of their vehicle’s defective brake hoses or wipers on April 17 and March 27 respectively, although it may take additional time for the automaker to secure replacements. Dealers will replace both parts as necessary for free. Drivers interested in checking the recall status of their vehicle can find out by visiting the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) website and inputting their vehicle identification number.
In January, Ford filed to bring in 400,000 vehicles to fix an issue with rearview cameras. Two months later, it issued another notice for 98,500 Ranger trucks to replace faulty airbag inflators. The brake hose recall is the automaker’s biggest in 2023 so far, and places it at risk of becoming the most-recalled brand in the U.S. for three years in a row. Ford is currently seeking to ramp up production and clear its image after struggling to make ends meet in 2022. In February, company CEO Jim Farley plainly addressed the complications or “dysfunctions” ingrained in Ford’s business model, promising to tackle such issues with “huge transformations.”
