By Jake Lingeman, Crain News Service
DETROIT (Jan. 23, 2014) — Ford Motor Co. is recalling its E-series van and Explorer SUV for two different reasons.
The 2011 vans could develop bubbles in the windshield, decreasing visibility, Ford said, while the Explorers need to have their steering gears checked.
The van's windshields were improperly manufactured, according to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA)—some forming bubbles after an extended time in hot temperatures. This could reduce visibility, increasing the risk of a crash. The recall is expected to begin later this month.
More than 4,500 vans are affected, all from model year 2011. Owners can contact Ford's customer relations center at 866-436-7332 or NHTSA at 888-327-4236.
The Explorers affected are from model years 2011 and 2012 and received a suspect replacement steering gear after Sept. 1, 2013. Approximately 300 steering gears are potentially affected in the U.S.
NHTSA said the bad gears could lead to a locked steering gear, increasing the risk of a crash, though the likelihood of that occurrence is very low, according to the agency.
Ford has already started sending letters to owners known to have received the bad gear; the auto maker will finish the mailing of letters by Jan. 24.
Owners can contact the numbers above if they think their car has the faulty gear, Ford said.
This report appeared on the website of Autoweek magazine, a Detroit-based sister publication of Tire Business.