Ford Motor Company of South Africa has issued safety recalls for over 5,700 vehicles, including the EcoSport, Puma, Everest, and Ranger.
The EcoSport models being recalled were built between April 2021 and July 2022. The front half shafts in affected vehicles may not have been fully inserted into the transmission during assembly, creating the potential for the half shaft to disengage from the transmission.
“FMCSA has identified that in some of the affected vehicles, there is a possibility that the left-side camshaft sprocket may fracture, causing the engine to stall. An engine stall without warning increases the risk of an accident,” the company warns.
It notes that, of the 2,872 affected vehicles in Southern Africa, 2,806 were sold in South Africa, 25 in Botswana, and 41 in Namibia.
The Puma vehicles have also been recalled due to a fuel line rubbing against a bracket, damaging the fuel line, potentially causing a fuel leak, engine stalling, or fire. Ford cautions that owners may notice fuel odor, fuel leaking beneath the vehicle, or smoke from fuel on a hot surface.
Ford notes that, of the 1,796 affected Puma vehicles in Southern Africa, 1,775 vehicles were sold in South Africa, six in Botswana, 13 in Namibia, and two in Eswatini.
The third safety recall relates to certain Ranger and Everest derivatives fitted with 3.0-litre V6 turbodiesel engines. Ford says that the left-side camshaft sprocket in affected vehicles may fracture, causing the engine to stall, increasing the risk of an accident. In total, 1,050 units of the V6-powered Ranger and Everest are included in the recall.
Of the 479 affected Everest vehicles, 461 were sold in South Africa, seven in Botswana, ten in Namibia, and one in Eswatini.
Of the 571 affected Ranger vehicles, 534 were sold in South Africa, ten in Botswana, 24 in Namibia, and three in Eswatini.
Ford is contacting affected customers and advising them to contact their preferred dealer to schedule an appointment for inspection and repairs. This service will be performed at no cost to the customer.
