The 2013 Ford Fusion is undergoing its second recall in a week, this time over faulty headlamps. The first recall also involved the auto maker’s Escape and was related to the engine’s fire hazard.
The new Fusion went on the marked in late September and is crucial to the company’s success, reports The Huffington Post . The sedan is newly redesigned and, along with the Escape, boasts a brand new 1.6 liter turbocharged ecoboost engine.
Unfortunately for Ford, the new engine is causing a multitude of problems. It has been under investigation since the new Ford Fusion hit the market and has been the subject of two recalls for the Escape and one for the Fusion.
The 2013 Ford Fusion’s latest recall involves the sedan’s headlamps, which can become hazy and dimmer over time, according to the automaker’s statement filed with the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration on Friday.
The recall is small, with only 19,106 Fusion sedans involved. The Examiner notes that low beam headlamp projector was improperly coated during the manufacturing process by Ford’s supplier. The resulting hazy headlamp increases the risk that the vehicle may be involved in a crash.
Along with the 2013 Ford Fusion’s latest recall, the car’s mileage claim may be under investigation after Consumer Reports published a report on December 6 that showed the 2013 Ford Fusion Hybrid (and the new Ford C-Max Hybrid) have been coming up short on mileage numbers — sometimes as much as 20 percent — based on testing by Consumer Reports.
Ford’s marketing chief, Jim Farley, has said that the company will not get involved in any scandal related to their mileage claims, adding that the company follower proper testing procedures. Officials with the popular automaker have reportedly challenged the Consumer Reports statement, saying:
“Early C-Max Hybrid and Fusion Hybrid customers praise the vehicles and report a range of fuel economy figures, including some reports above 47 mpg.”
While the 2013 Ford Fusion’s second recall will continue as planned, with owners being notified shortly, it is not clear if the EPA will investigate the discrepancy in mileage claims between the automaker and Consumer Reports.
