Dangerous Truck Part Recall by Ford
Ford Motor Company issued a dangerous truck part recall involving almost 900,000 vehicles recently. It followed the discovery of a faulty heater cable in the engine block in F-150 and Super Duty models. According to the automaker, the faulty heater cable could start a vehicle fire. However, the risk exists when the heater cable is plugged in and the vehicle is parked. The company reported that they had received three reports of fires in Ford trucks due to this splice connector, and only one caused minor damages. Ford said they didn’t believe any accidents or injuries had occurred due to the defective part but were issuing a dangerous truck part recall anyway.
Details of the Dangerous Truck Part Recall
The heater cables in question are used by truck owners to warm the engine so it will start more easily during cold weather. Typically, the cable hangs from the vehicle and is plugged into an extension cord in the garage. The problem is that contaminants and water can enter the splice connector, damaging it over time. This can result in a short, which makes the heater inoperable and may trip the outlet or breakers, starting a fire. A garage fire can destroy the vehicle and spread to the house, resulting in severe burn injuries or loss of life and property.
Affected Truck Models
The dangerous truck part recall involves more than 410,000 vehicles sold in the U.S. and nearly 464,000 in Canada. Affected models with dates of manufacture and location include:
- Ford F-150s, manufactured between 2015 and 2019. The affected vehicles were manufactured from March 18, 2017, through November 17, 2018, at the Dearborn, Michigan truck plant. Others recalled were manufactured from August 21, 2014, through November 17, 2018, at the plant in Kansas City.
- Ford Super Duty trucks, manufactured between February 5, 2016, through November 17, 2018, were assembled at the Ohio plant. In addition, trucks manufactured from October 8, 2015, through November 17, 2018, at the Kentucky plant will be recalled.
How Recalls Work
Since safety is an important issue when choosing a car, manufacturers are often likely to issue a recall for a defective auto part or vehicle. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) continually monitors vehicles for defects. Many times, consumers will discover a defect and report it. In other instances, a defect will be discovered as the cause of an accident. When the government receives sufficient complaints, it will urge the manufacturer to recall the vehicle voluntarily. The public perceives A voluntary recall better than when the manufacturer is forced into recalling the vehicles. If the manufacturer does not issue a voluntary recall, the NHTSA can order it to be done. The manufacturer must release a notice by mail to all consumers who own the vehicle alerting them to the recall and to provide a remedy without charge. This may entail repairing, refunding, or replacing the defective part or vehicle. If you were injured due to a recalled product, you can still file a lawsuit against the manufacturer.
An Experienced Personal Injury Lawyer Can Help
Dangerous truck part recalls are a part of personal injury law that falls under the category of products liability. A person may claim fair compensation when injured by a defective or dangerous product. Depending on the defect, this may involve the manufacturer, parts supplier, designer, and others. An injury lawyer experienced in auto defects can help by preparing a solid case and filing against the appropriate parties.
Rosemont Car Accident Lawyer
I’m Ed Smith, a Rosemont car accident lawyer. Auto recalls are common. However, it is essential when the defective part could cause a fire or an accident. If you or your loved one was injured because of an auto part you suspect was defective, call me at (916) 921-6400 or (800) 404-5400 for free and friendly advice. Our online contact form at AutoAccident.com is also an easy way to contact me.
I’m a proud member of the Million Dollar Forum, a group of top trial lawyers from around the country who have won more than one million dollars for a client. I have also been recognized by the National Association of Distinguished Counsel for excellence in law practice.
There are so many choices that it can be hard to decide what injury lawyer to call with your questions. To give you more information, I have posted links to client reviews and a list of some of our previous cases and how they concluded:
As an injury lawyer for 37 years, I’ve helped numerous Rosemont residents and those from other locations in Northern California to get fair compensation in cases involving wrongful death, all types of motor vehicle accidents, and traumas such as brain injuries.
Photo Attribution: https://pixabay.com/en/car-truck-transport-vehicle-2807545/
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