Ford Recall List: Manufacturer Addresses Faulty Door Latches On 2012-2014 Fiesta, Fusion, Lincoln MKZ


The Ford recall list has some new entries. Safety is the main issue as the Detroit-based manufacturer is looking to fix a persistent problem with faulty door latches.

Ford isn’t the only company with recall problems, as previously reported by the Inquisitr. The Honda Canada plant was plagued with airbag issues and safety lawsuits, which Canada Prime Minister Stephen Harper has not made a comment on.

Vehicle safety is important, as the weight of a motor vehicle combined with how fast it can go literally makes your average sedan more dangerous than a bullet, even at legal speeds. Consumer driving habits can only go so far to ensure safety, though. If the car leaves the plant with defects such as a faulty airbag or door latches that break and open while you drive, there is little the consumer can do, other than try to get it repaired before it creates a situation leading to serious injury.

The Ford recall list includes 389,585 late-model Ford Fiestas, Fusions, and Lincoln MKZ sedans due to door latches that either won’t close or potentially open by themselves as you drive. The Ford Fiesta alone has gained the company 207 complaints to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, who opened an investigation into the issue last September.

Ford admits to have accumulated 451 reports on its own and 1,079 warranty claims, according to USA Today.

One consumer has even written to the government on the door latch issue.

“I could not close it so I drove with the seat belt tied to the door for four miles to the nearest Ford dealer, [but] Ford would only replace the single, defective latch. Days later, the problem reoccurred when a rear door flew open. Again, Ford fixed only the broken latch.”

“This is a very, very, very hazardous issue which could become deadly to bicyclists or pedestrians.”

The Ford recall list is related to two known incidents where the door latch led to injury or damage. In one, the door bounced back, as they attempted to shut it. Another involved a door opening and hitting another vehicle as the consumer entered a parking lot.

The vehicles on the list include 2012-2014 Ford Fiestas, 2013-2014 Ford Fusions, and Lincoln MKZ vehicles built in specific assembly plants, says the New York Daily News. Authorized dealers will replace all four door latches for free.

If you own any of the vehicles named in the mentioned Ford recall list, be safe and have the door latches checked and replaced at an authorized Ford dealer as soon as possible.

[Image via Extreme Tech]

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