Ford Recalls 680k Vehicles for Seat Belt Defect

The Ford Motor Company has announced a major recall of over 680,000 vehicles due to a defect with their front safety belts. The company states that the front seatbelts may not hold people in a crash due to the heat generated when the seatbelt pre-tensioner engages. As a result, the system may fail, causing serious injury during an accident.

To date, Ford has been made aware of two injuries as a result of this issue, but no deaths as of yet.

The major American automaker has already indicated that a repair has been developed, and dealers will begin repairing vehicles through this recall on January 16^th of next year.

The affected vehicles include recent midsize sedans, including the 2013-2016 Ford Fusion, the 2013-2015 Lincoln MKZ, and the 2015-2016 Ford Mondeo. Ford says that most of the affected vehicles are in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

Ford’s Recent Recalls

This is just the first in a long line of recalls that have impacted Ford in recent years. The Fusion (along with the Edge and the Lincoln MKZ) was the subject of another major recall of over 487,000 units in April of 2015 when it was discovered that salt or other contaminates found on roads could corrode the electric power steering motor’s attachment bolts.

The popular F-150 pickup truck line has also faced several recalls over the last couple of years, including one involving the seatbelt system being at risk for failure due to an improperly-crimped pre-tensioner cable. This came just three months after another recall was issued for their adaptive cruise control technology applying the brakes unexpectedly after a false detection.

Injured by a Defective Auto Part?

If you are injured by a defective auto part or technology, you could be eligible to receive substantial compensation. Auto manufacturers have a duty to ensure that the vehicles they sell are safe and free from mechanical issues that could cause an unexpected malfunction. If you are injured by one of these pieces of technology, it is important to have your case evaluated by a Houston personal injury attorney.

At The Law Office of Farah Law, we have over 30 years of experience assisting those who have been injured through no fault of their own. Our attorneys have been recognized with numerous industry awards, including recognition from Super Lawyers and an 8.9 Excellent rating from Avvo.