Ford recalls Kuga 1.6-litre
A total of 39 incidents of vehicles bursting into flames have been reported to Ford.
The President and CEO of Ford Motor Company Southern Africa, Jeff Nemeth, has announced a voluntary safety recall for certain Ford Kuga utility vehicles. The safety recall is limited to the Kuga 1.6-litre model built between December 2012 and February 2014.
The recall of the Ford Kuga 1.6-litre comes after several reports of vehicles that have caught fire and one which resulted in the death of a man.
“We are now announcing a voluntary safety recall for the affected Ford Kuga 1.6. Our investigation has enabled us to narrow the number … to a total of 4 556 affected vehicles,” Nemeth said.
Speaking on Monday during a media briefing in Pretoria, Nemeth told reporters that a total of 39 incidents have been reported to Ford.
“With this safety recall, all affected vehicles, including those that have already been checked as part of our maintenance check, must be taken to a Ford dealer as soon as possible,” he said.
According to Nemeth, the safety recall comprises of two stages.
The first stage involves replacing affected components on the cooling system, verifying and updating the software as well as conducting an oil leak check on the cylinder. The second stage of the safety recall will make the cooling system even more robust and is likely to involve further changes and parts on the warning systems.
“If any Kuga 1.6 owner sees any indication that the engine may be overheating or experiences warnings on the instrument plaster they should pull over as soon as it is safe to do so, switch off the engine and ensure that all occupants are safely out the vehicle. For safety reasons the bonnet must not be opened,” Nemeth said.
