US auto regulators open 2 investigations into Ford vehicle recalls
A U.S. government auto safety regulator has opened two separate investigations into Ford vehicles over concerns that prior safety recalls may not have been extensive enough.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced both probes, which collectively affect more than 500,000 Ford trucks and SUVs, on Nov. 15.
Faulty seatbelt deployment, loss of power
One investigation concerns the inadvertent deployment of the seatbelt retractor pretensioner in model 2019 and 2020 Ford Expeditions. According to the NHTSA, the agency received three complaints, alleging "hearing a loud sound immediately followed by the seat belt rapidly tightening."
In February, Ford issued a recall notice for approximately 77,574 Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator models manufactured between 2018 and 2020 due to issues with the driver and front passenger seatbelts tensing and locking in place at inappropriate times. According to the NHTSA, the more recent complaints were for Ford Expedition models that were not included in the initial recall.
A second inquiry concerns more than 450,000 Ford Bronco Sport SUVs and Ford Maverick trucks, over concerns that the vehicles can suddenly lose power.
Ford issued a safety recall in April 2024 covering 456,565 2021-2024 Ford Bronco Sport and 2022-2023 Ford Maverick vehicles, after reports that the body and power train control modules on these vehicles could fail to detect a change in the battery state of charge, potentially resulting in a loss of electrical accessories such as hazard lights, or cause a loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash.
Since the recall, the NHTSA said it has received 15 reports from Ford Bronco owners whose vehicles received the recall repair and subsequently suffered a sudden loss of motive power.
Ford also hit with civil penalty for recall failures
The two investigations come just days after the NHTSA announced that Ford Motor Company will pay a $165 million civil penalty after failing to recall defective vehicles and failing to provide accurate recall information.
According to the NHTSA, Ford failed to recall vehicles in a timely manner following an investigation into vehicles with defective rearview cameras that began in 2020.
The civil penalty is the second largest issued in the NHTSA's history.
Max Hauptman is a Trending Reporter for USA TODAY. He can be reached at [email protected]