More ’Bag Blues: Ford Recalls 747,000 Cars for Faulty Airbag Controller

Ford is recalling 746,842 automobiles in the U.S. to replace airbag controllers that can short-circuit.

In C-Max, Fusion, Escape, and Lincoln MKZ models from 2013 and 2014, the airbag controller module’s coating can crack from thermal cycling—the rise and fall of vehicle-element temperatures—and expose internal circuits to moisture, causing a brief that can lead to improper frontal or side airbag deployment. Extra security systems that rely on the controller’s information, such as the pretensioners and stability manage, can be similarly affected for the duration of a crash. In these circumstances, airbag and stability-manage warnings need to seem on the dashboard.

Ford mentioned it discovered greater than regular warranty claims for airbag warning lights starting in November 2013, but given that several of the cars were already repaired, the automaker believed the difficulty had been contained. But this July, Ford noticed it was addressing an “unexpected increase” of airbag controllers and by August had determined the difficulty with the device’s coating. Owners will receive notice to replace the controller starting November 8.

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Ford has knowledgeable other difficulties with this particular airbag controller. In Could, Ford recalled nearly 600,000 2013–2014 C-Max and Escape models to reprogram controllers that could delay deploying the side-curtain airbags in an accident. Also in Might, Ford recalled more than 1.3 million sedans and SUVs, like the last-gen Escape, for power-steering failures, electrical fires, and trapped accelerators. In April, Ford recalled the very same vehicles in this newest recall for loose seatbacks that had been improperly welded at the factory. Only 43,000 automobiles were impacted in that instance, nonetheless.

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More ’Bag Blues: Ford Recalls 747,000 Cars for Faulty Airbag Controller

It’s Me, Switches: Chrysler Recalling Up to 792,300 Jeeps for Faulty Ignition Switches

July 24, 2014 at 5:45 pm by Clifford Atiyeh | Photography by Getty Images/Bill Pugliano

Chrysler said it would recall up to 792,300 Jeeps to replace the very same faulty ignition switches that had been the topic of an earlier recall this month that covered 696,000 minivans and crossovers.

The National Highway Targeted traffic Security Administration, after receiving documents from Chrysler on its airbag controllers, opened 2 investigations in June on the 2005–2006 Grand Cherokee and the 2006–2007 Commander. Chrysler has because expanded the vehicle population to contain the 2007 Grand Cherokee, for a possible total of 649,900 automobiles in the U.S., up from the agency’s initial 525,000. Chrysler said it was nevertheless tabulating the final number and would notify owners in mid-September, saying that for now they should “remove all products from their crucial rings, leaving only their ignition keys.”

The agency stated it had received 32 complaints from Grand Cherokee and Commander owners since 2004 alleging that the ignition had been simply bumped to the off position by the driver’s knee hitting the key. Chrysler stated it knew of at least a single crash and roughly 119 complaints from owners connected to the switch problem. As with the General Motors ignition-switch recall, the airbag controllers can stay powered for only 150 milliseconds soon after the car shuts down, which means that if the engine dies, they will not deploy.

As it did with the minivans, Chrysler probably will set up hardier detent rings inside the ignition switches to avoid the important from moving too readily, despite the fact that it hasn’t specified the exact repair in this case. Another 920,000 2002–2003 Jeep Liberty and 2002–2004 Grand Cherokee models are under NHTSA investigation for airbags that can accidentally deploy.

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Chrysler is also recalling 21,000 cars and trucks for shocks and struts that can “break cost-free from their mounts” and cause a loss of manage. The 2014 Ram 1500, 2015 Jeep Cherokee, and 2015 Chrysler 200 are impacted, such as about 14,300 in the U.S. Chrysler hasn’t set dates for client notification or repairs.

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It’s Me, Switches: Chrysler Recalling Up to 792,300 Jeeps for Faulty Ignition Switches