Its Shop Time Mondays: Ford, Hyundai, Genesis, Lincoln And Mercury Combined, Recalling Over 2.7 Million Vehicles

Driver's Air Bag Inflator May Explode

An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.

NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V158000

Manufacturer Ford Motor Company

Components AIR BAGS

Potential Number of Units Affected 2,602,668

Recall Mondays: Acura, Honda, Ford, Hyundai, Jaguar, Lincoln And Mercury Are In The Hot Seat

1. Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)

Number Of Affected Customers: 5.4 million

Summary:

American Honda Motor Company, Inc. (Honda) is recalling certain model year 2001-2007 Accord (4-cylinder), 2001-2002 Accord (V6), 2001-2005 Civic, 2002-2006 CR-V, 2003-2011 Element, 2002-2004 Odyssey, 2003-2007 Pilot, 2006 Ridgeline, 2003-2006 Acura MDX, and 2002-2003 TL/CL vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver side frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture.

Consequence:

In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver side frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking and potentially seriously injuring the vehicle occupants.

Recall Mondays: Ford Announcing Two Major Recalls Affecting 200,000 Vehicles

1.  AFFECTED VEHICLES: 133,000

SUMMARY:

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Escape vehicles manufactured October 5, 2011, to April 1, 2013, and equipped with 2.0 liter engines and Focus ST vehicles manufactured February 14, 2012, to October 14, 2013, and equipped with 2.0 liter engines. Insufficient compression in the engine wiring harness splices to the Manifold Absolute Pressure (MAP) sensor may provide incorrect signals to the powertrain control module (PCM).

CONSEQUENCE:

The incorrect signals could cause the vehicle to hesitate or the engine to stall, increasing the risk of a crash.

REMEDY:

Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the current crimped splices with new splices, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin September 29, 2014. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-800-392-3673. Ford's number for this recall is 14S17.

Ford And Mercury Recalling 129,000 Vehicles For Possible Wheel Separation

• 

  Vehicle Make / Model:

  Model Year(s):

• FORD / FUSION
  2010-2011
• MERCURY / MILAN
  2010-2011

• Manufacturer:

  FORD MOTOR COMPANY

• Mfr's Report Date:

  DEC 05, 2011

• NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number:

  11V574000
• PE11003,EA11009

  NHTSA Action Number:

  2 Investigations found 

• Component:

  WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS

• Potential Number of Units Affected:

  128,616

• Summary:

  FORD IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2010-2011 FORD FUSION AND MERCURY MILAN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 17 INCH STEEL WHEELS AND BUILT FROM APRIL 1, 2009, THROUGH APRIL 30, 2009, AND FROM DECEMBER 1, 2009, THROUGH NOVEMBER 13, 2010. THE WHEEL STUDS MAY FRACTURE, POTENTIALLY CAUSING A WHEEL TO SEPARATE.

• Consequence:

  WHILE DRIVING, MULTIPLE STUD FRACTURES COULD OCCUR AT THE WHEEL LOCATION, AND THE OPERATOR MAY EXPERIENCE VEHICLE VIBRATION AND/OR WHEEL SEPARATION, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

• Remedy:

  FORD WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE REAR BRAKE DISC SURFACE FOR FLATNESS AND REPLACE THE DISCS AS NECESSARY. ADDITIONALLY, THE WHEEL LUG NUTS WILL BE REPLACED ON ALL FOUR WHEELS. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR ABOUT JANUARY 24, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP CENTER AT 1-866-436-7332.

• Notes:

  FORD'S RECALL NUMBER IS 11S23. OWNERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV 

Is Mercury on the Chopping Block?

Reports have been surfacing for years - regarding the life span of the Mercury brand, which was launched in the late thirties. It is expected that the brand, which was suppose to be a stepping stone for those who couldn't afford a Lincoln, but wanted a little more flair than a Ford will be closing its doors soon. For those who follow the industry closely, this comes as no surprise. Over the past few years, its been difficult to distinguish a Ford from a Mercury, besides just a few cosmetic changes. Even the option packages are virtually the same.

With only four brands currently in the Mercury line up, Ford Motor Co., the parent company, hasn't  officially confirmed which brands will be renewed. However, we do know that the rear-wheel drive Marquis will bite the dust next year along with Ford's Crown Vic. And, Ford plans on switching the platform of popular Ford Explorer from a truck-base to a car-base. As of now, there are no plans to convert its Mercury sister, the Mountaineer to the same platform. In our eyes this means, the vehicle will be leaving the brand, too.

Furthermore, when the stylish 2010 Ford Taurus hit the market last year, there wasn't a Sable in the Mercury line up to compliment the brand. This should have been a sign that the brand was on its last leg.

With that being said, this leaves Mercury with two duplicate Ford vehicles: a Milan (and Milan hybrid), and a Mariner (and Mariner  hybrid). There is just no way a brand can survive off two vehicles. Just like GM decided to eliminate duplicate brands recently by closing the Saturn and Pontiac brands. Its highly unlikely Ford Motor Co. will hold on to this brand.