Ford issues three safety recalls involving 48,300 vehicles

(April 1, 2016) DEARBORN, Mich. — Ford has issued three safety recalls in North America involving 48,300 vehicles including 38,000 Transit vans to inspect and adjust side-curtain airbags.

The Transit recall involves 2015-2016 low-roof vehicles to inspect and adjust side-curtain airbags as needed. In some vehicles, it is possible the side-curtain airbags are positioned incorrectly on either or both sides of the vehicle, which may influence side-curtain airbag performance and increase the risk of injury in a crash.

Affected vehicles include certain 2015-2016 low-roof Ford Transit vehicles built at Kansas City Assembly Plant, March 12, 2014, through March 18, 2016. There are 37,905 vehicles affected, including 37,066 in the United States and federalized territories and 839 in Canada.

Dealers will inspect and adjust the side-curtain airbags to the correct position as needed at no cost to the customer.

Ford has issued a safety recall for 5,500 model year 2015-2016 Lincoln MKC and 2016 Ford Explorer vehicles to replace engine block heaters. The recall involves 2015-2016 Lincoln MKC and 2016 Ford Explorer vehicles to remove the heaters and replace them with an updated design. The engine block design, coupled with the particular block heater installed in these vehicles, causes the unit to be susceptible to overheating when the vehicle is parked and the block heater is plugged in increasing the risk of an underhood fire.

Dealers will remove and replace the engine block heater with an updated design and, if needed, replace the cord at no cost to the customer.

A safety recall has been issues for 4,800 model year 2015-2016 Ford F-650 and F-750 vehicles to replace parking brake cable connector clips. The connector clips were not manufactured to the correct specifications and could break resulting in unintended movement of the vehicle and increased risk of injury.

Ford will replace the parking brake cable connector clips.