© Reuters. FILE PHOTO: 2020 Ford Explorer vehicles are seen at Ford’s Chicago Meeting Plant in Chicago, Illinois, U.S. June 24, 2019. REUTERS/Kamil Krzaczynski/File Picture
By David Shepardson
WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. auto security regulators mentioned on Saturday they’re investigating Ford Motor (NYSE:)’s prior recollects of 710,000 Explorer SUVs over energy loss reviews to find out if the repair is ample.
The Nationwide Freeway Visitors Security Administration (NHTSA) famous the No. 2 U.S. automaker issued recollects in April 2022 and March on Ford Explorer SUVs from the 2020-2022 mannequin years to deal with a rear axle horizontal mounting bolt that will fracture and trigger the driveshaft to disconnect.
Ford mentioned earlier its recollects had been to deal with a disconnected driveshaft that might consequence within the car rolling away positioned in ‘Park’ with out the parking brake utilized, rising the chance of a crash.
Ford didn’t instantly remark Saturday however mentioned in March it was not conscious of any crashes or accidents tied to the recall situation.
Ford’s repair is so as to add a software program replace that routinely applies the digital service parking brake to maintain the car from rolling away, the company mentioned, including there isn’t any treatment to deal with the failed rear axle horizontal mounting bolt “which is the idea of this security situation and the reason for the impaired car.”
NHTSA mentioned it has obtained two complaints alleging a lack of energy or transmission torque of the rear wheels in Explorer autos that had obtained the recall repair.
One grievance advised NHTSA that after getting the software program replace “the car would randomly slam to a whole cease whereas driving. It occurred a number of occasions with three totally different drivers (myself, my spouse, and my son), every taking place at 30-35 mph or much less.”