US: Ford recalling 1.2m pickups for fire concerns

The Detroit News (Traverse City, US) - Ford Motor Co. said Monday that it is recalling 1.22 million pickups in the United States and Canada over concerns about fuel tanks dropping and causing fire — the latest in a series of recalls this year for the Dearborn automaker.

The recall includes the 1997-2003 Ford F-150, 2004 F-150 Heritage, 1997-99 F-250 — versions below 8,500 pounds — and 2002-03 Lincoln Blackwood pickups.

In the United States, the recall includes 1.1 million vehicles in 21 states and Washington, D.C., to replace fuel tank straps. The straps can corrode after operation for extended periods — often in high corrosion areas — and allow the fuel tank to drop and potentially leak, which could lead to a fire, Ford said.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in May upgraded an investigation into 2.7 million Ford pickup trucks over this issue. NHTSA said Monday that its investigation is continuing into the remaining 1.6 million pickups that haven't been recalled.

"Our investigation is still open until NHTSA can fully evaluate the steps Ford has taken today," said NHTSA spokeswoman Lynda Tran.

Ford has now recalled nearly 3 million vehicles in 2011; by contrast the Dearborn automaker recalled just 570,000 vehicles in all of 2010.

NHTSA said in May it had 243 reports involving the fuel tank dropping below the vehicle and/or dragging on the ground, 95 involved fuel leakage, and nine included reports of sparks from the tank being dragged on the road.

NHTSA had one report of strap failure in which the leaking fuel ignited but self-extinguished. Ford reported another incident in which the leaking fuel ignited and the resultant fire destroyed the vehicle.

Ford will notify owners in mid-September and ask them to take their vehicles to their local dealers who will repair the vehicles. Ford is aware of three vehicle fires and one injury associated with this condition.

The recall is the latest in a series of recalls for the Dearborn automaker. In April, under heavy government pressure, Ford expanded a recall of F-150 pickups and other vehicles over air bags that suddenly deployed in more than 260 cases.

In total, Ford recalled more than 1.3 million vehicles over the issue.

In January Ford said it was recalling 425,000 Windstar minivans in 22 cold-weather states, including Michigan, to fix potentially corroded parts. The recall covers the 1999-2003 model years.

In March, Continental AG's North American unit said it was recalling 390,000 truck tires following a fatal crash involving a Ford pickup in September. Most of the recalled tires were used as original equipment on new Ford F-250 and F-350 vehicles.

The company said 330,000 of the tires were used on new 2008-09 Ford F-250 and F-350 trucks, while the rest were sold as replacement tires on Ford and other trucks.

NHTSA is also investigating many other Ford issues. On Saturday, NHTSA said it had upgraded an investigation into 317,000 Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan sedans on wheel issues.

The new pickup recall includes vehicles that were sold or now registered in: Delaware, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia and Wisconsin.