Ford Australia has recently issued a recall for at least 20K of their Ranger utes and Everest SUVs. The recall notice was submitted to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission or ACCC, an independent authority under the Australian Government. You will find full details of the recall on the ACCC website.
Which Vehicles Are Affected by This Recall?
The first vehicle affected by this recall was the 2017-2019 Ford Ranger ute (almost 16,000 of them sold from December 19, 2017 to October 15, 2019). It was followed by the 2018-2019 Ford Everest SUV (about 5,000 units sold from May 30, 2018 to October 16, 2019).
According to some sources, Ford Australia has already fixed over 60% of the affected vehicles. Those that Ford has yet to see can expect to receive a call from the company for their scheduled inspection and repair.
What Problem Prompted the Recall?
The culprit is the problematic 10-speed auto transmission used in these vehicles. There’s a risk that the fluid pump gears in these transmissions would stop working. If this happens while the car is in motion, the transmission could lose hydraulic fluid pressure, cause the car to lose power, and endanger the car’s occupants and other road users as well.
What Can Affected Ford Owners Do in the Meantime?
Ford has announced that they will be contacting owners directly. However, concerned owners can check out the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) lists on the ACCC website here to see if their car is among the unfortunate ones.
Furthermore, owners can also head on over to Ford Australia’s website and enter their VINs to see if they're affected. Ford's website also includes information on how to find the VIN on your vehicle.
Lastly, owners of these vehicles also have the option to contact their nearest Ford dealers or call their Customer Relationship Centre at 1800 503 672 for clarification.
Not the First Recall
This isn't the first time that Ford Australia has issued a recall of their vehicles. In 2019, the company had issued an urgent recall due to the Takata airbag issue, safety equipment used by many automakers. The problem with the frontal Takata airbag inflators is the ammonium nitrate propellant used, which causes airbags to deploy with too much force. The impact of the airbag could inflict serious injuries and even cause death to the driver.
Do Not Ignore Car Recalls
Believe it or not, some 25% of Australian car owners ignore recalls of their vehicles. The slew of recalls that have been happening one after the other lately plus the current pressing concerns about the pandemic may have caused some people to overlook the notices. Worse, there are many people who assume that they're not affected or that there's nothing wrong with their cars.
Please remember that a recalled car endangers not only its driver and passengers but also other people. With that in mind, let's not delay our response to recalls.
Take Proper Car of Your Car
Aside from heeding recalls, you should also make it a point to take good care of your daily driver, follow the manufacturer’s recommended servicing, and listen to the car's issues, whether minor or major.
Always keep your mechanic’s number within your reach and have quick access to high-quality car parts. One way to do this is to make CarPart your partner in keeping your vehicle in top shape.
CarPart should be your go-to website for all things automotive, especially when it comes to sourcing auto parts and accessories. Instead of the arduous process of searching for parts, all you need to do is send a request. You'd be happy to know that we’ve found a simple and effective solution to what used to be a time-consuming task. So, send a request now and start receiving quotes!
by Ray Hasbollah