What You Should Know About Ford Fusion Recalls – Michigan Car Defect Attorney Explains
Motor vehicle recalls are issued on a regular basis across multiple car manufacturers. Some recalls relate to minor defects while others relate to far more serious defects that have the potential to cause injuries or death. Ford has seen its fair share of recalls over the past decade, and the Ford Fusion is no exception. Since 2010, there have been countless recalls issued for various defective components of the vehicle. Because so much is at stake and accidents have the potential to be catastrophic, it is important that all Ford Fusion owners are aware of what recalls have been issued relating their vehicles.
What is a Recall?
The National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration (NHTSA) will issue recalls on vehicles it deems to be unsafe or not in compliance with federal laws, rules, and regulations. Car manufacturers can also issue recalls voluntarily for the same reasons. Typically, a recall relates to a specific component of a vehicle, such as steering, gear shift, and parking brake malfunctions, among others. When a recalled is issued, car manufacturers send notifications out to owners offering to fix the defective component free of charge.
What is a Defect?
Various types of defects can make a car dangerous. Such defects generally fall into the following categories:
- Design Defect – This type of defect occurs when the design of the vehicle or its components makes the vehicle inherently and unreasonably dangerous. For example, if the design of an SUV makes the vehicle prone to rollovers, this may demonstrate the SUV is inherently dangerous and poses an unreasonable risk of harm to others.
- Manufacturing Defect – This type of defect occurs when the vehicle itself was defectively manufactured or built. For example, if a part was not properly secured or welded, this makes both the vehicle and anyone inside the vehicle vulnerable to being involved in an accident.
- Inadequate Warnings or Instructions (“Failure to Warn”) – This type of defect is different from the other types of defects in that the vehicle itself may have been designed and manufactured properly, but the vehicle nonetheless poses a risk of harm for failing to provide adequate warnings and instructions. For example, in 2015, it was discovered that if a driver accidentally left a vehicle on that had a push-start button, that driver was at risk for suffering carbon-monoxide poisoning (i.e., if the car is left running while it is in a closed garage and the driver is simply in the garage). With a sound or audible warning, drivers are more likely to then turn their cars off.
Ford Fusion Recalls Date Back to 2010 – What You Should Know
The following recalls have been issued for Ford Fusions, and the list certainly does not contain every recall over the past seven years. Because so many recalls have been issued, it is important to speak with a Michigan Product Liability and Class Action Attorney to learn whether or not your car is subject to any of these recalls or others that may not be listed.
- May 24, 2010 – Ford recalled certain 2010 Ford Fusions manufactured from February 27, 2010 to March 26, 2010 because the park rod guide retention pin may not have been properly installed, failing to meet federal motor vehicle safety requirements.
- December 3, 2012 – Ford recalled certain 2013 Ford Fusions manufactured from February 3, 2012, to November 29, 2012, with 1.6L engines for having a cooling system which may cause leaks, the car to overheat, and possibly catch fire as flammable fluids are being leaked.
- May 31, 2013 – Ford recalled 2013 Ford Fusions for having a fuel delivery module that has the potential to crack and allow fuel to leak.
- April 2, 2014 – Ford recalled certain 2013 and 2014 Ford Fusions manufactured between August 15, 2012, and September 10, 2013, because both the driver and passenger seatback assemblies were produced with “sub-standard” weld joints used to attach the seat back recliner mechanism to the seat frame. Such a defect results in having insufficiently strong seats and a failure to meet the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS).
- May 29, 2014 – Ford recalled certain all-weather driver-side accessory floor mats sold in Ford Fusions for years 2006 to 2011 because the floor mats have the potential to move and interfere with the driver’s accelerator pedal.
- September 26, 2014 – Ford recalled certain 2013 and 2014 Ford Fusions manufactured between February 2, 2012, and August 24, 2013, because the coating on portions of the Restraint Control Module (RCM) had the potential to crack, and if exposed to humidity, circuits on the printed circuit board may short.
- April 24, 2015 – Ford recalled certain 2013 and 2014 Ford Fusions manufactured between July 1, 2012, and May 21, 2013. The recall was expanded on April 30, 2015, to include additional Ford Fusions manufactured between February 1, 2012, and June 30, 2012. The recall related to a component within the door latches that had the potential to break and make it difficult to latch the doors, which could then lead a driver or passenger to believe a door is closed when in fact it is not closed.
- April 28, 2015 – Ford recalled certain 2013 to 2015 Ford Fusions manufactured between February 3, 2012, and March 20, 2015, and sold in certain states. The recall pertains to problems with the electric power steering that could be compromised by snow or water containing road salt and other contaminants to corrode the steering gear motor attachment bolts.
- November 24, 2015 – Ford recalled certain 2010 and 2011 Ford Fusions manufactured between July 21, 2008, and March 3, 2011, for having fuel vapor canisters whose purge valves may not have been operating properly, causing abnormal pressure changes in the fuel tank.
- December 5, 2016 – Ford recalled certain Ford Fusions manufactured on September 27, 2016, and September 28, 2016, for improperly welded pivot pins for the left rear passenger seat backs. Ford determined that these improper welds have the potential to fail during an accident as anything stored in the trunk could move into the backseat passenger area.
- January 10, 2017 – Ford recalled certain 2012 Ford Fusions sold in certain states for having airbag inflators that may rupture in the event an airbag deploys during an accident. If the inflators rupture, metal fragments may strike anyone inside the vehicle.
- March 27, 2017 – Ford recalled certain 2014 and 2015 Ford Fusions with 1.6L GTDI engines, finding that if the vehicles are started and driven with an insufficient level of coolant within the cooling system, the engine cylinder head has the potential to overheat, crack and leak oil.
- July 6, 2017 – Ford recalled certain 2017 Fusions with 2.0L gas engines and six-speed automatic transmissions for potentially defective torque converter weld studs that may have been improperly or inadequately welded.
Injuries Associated with Defective Vehicles
Safety should always be the first concern when manufacturing a car, but sometimes defects happen, and corners get cut, posing a risk of harm to those on our streets and highways. Car manufacturers should be held responsible when their defective vehicles are the reason why an accident has happened and left innocent victims severely injured or killed. The different types of injuries associated with car accidents involving a defective car are not much different than those suffered in any other car accident. They include, but are certainly not limited to, the following:
- Head injuries, such as severe concussions and other traumatic brain injuries (TBIs);
- Cuts, lacerations, and gashes that require stitches, staples, or even surgery;
- Neck, spinal cord and back injuries that may result in partial or complete paralysis;
- Broken, fractured, or shattered bones, some of which may require extensive surgical treatment;
- Burns;
- Damage to internal organs;
- Internal bleeding; and
- Death.
It is an unfortunate reality that so many defective vehicles are on the roadway, and that so many recalls have been issued for the Ford Fusion and other vehicles. As such, anyone who has suffered injuries resulting from an accident involving a recalled vehicle, or someone who has lost a loved one from fatal injuries suffered in an accident should consider speaking with an attorney.
Contact Stern Law, PLLC Today to Schedule Your Free Consultation
Car recalls are not only inconvenient, but they can be potentially dangerous and cause an accident that places innocent lives at risk. The Ford Fusion is certainly not the only vehicle with potentially dangerous defects that pose a risk of harm to consumers and others on the roadway. For anyone who has suffered injuries resulting from an accident involving a defective Ford Fusion or another defective vehicle, it is important to understand if any legal options are available. In choosing an attorney to speak with, injured victims should consider an attorney who has experience handling large consumer class action lawsuits as well as product liability cases that involve personal injuries. At Stern Law, PLLC, our Michigan Class Action and Product Liability Attorneys have extensive experience handling a wide variety of class action and product liability cases involving defective vehicles. If you own a vehicle that is subject to a recall or if you have suffered injuries from an accident believed to involve a defective vehicle, you should act quickly by contact Stern Law, PLLC to schedule your free consultation by calling (844) 808-7529.
Sources:
http://www.carcomplaints.com/news/2017/ford-transmission-lawsuit-settlement.shtml
https://www.autobytel.com/ford/fusion/2017/car-recalls/
http://www.fordproblems.com/Fusion/
https://www.cars.com/recalls/ford-fusion/
https://repairpal.com/ford/fusion/recalls
https://www.consumerreports.org/cro/cars/hidden-dangers-of-push-button-start
