Ford’s most recalled model is the Fusion, with 1.3 million units affected by rupturing front brake hoses.
When it comes to factory defects, it seems like Ford’s not having the best of time lately. After the manufacturer issued a total of 65 agonizing recall cases affecting more than eight million units in 2022, the Blue Oval seems to be repeating history this year. According to the National Highway Traffic Administration (NHTSA), Ford has recalled 31 different models, or 4.1 million Ford vehicles, over the past six months. Of those four million vehicles, more than a quarter are Ford Fusion and Lincoln MKZ, both experiencing potentially fatal brake hose issues.
Put simply, that means that Ford alone accounts for approximately 25% of all the vehicles recalled in the first half of 2023 — not good, indeed.
On the flip side, the Ford F-150 Lightning pickup truck has the smallest recall number, with only 18 units affected by battery issues, which were all produced over a four-week duration, with investigations pointing to a mistake from the third-party supplier.
That said, although 4.1 million units may seem like a large number, this figure is actually a significant improvement over Ford’s last year’s six-month period moving average — 11% less, in fact. CEO Jim Farley says fixing Ford’s quality issues is the current number one priority, and nothing else matters; though, he also noted addressing such a problem could take several years. Josh Halliburton, Ford’s chief quality control, also vows to reduce the manufacturer’s spending on warranty works.
Interestingly, the brand recently introduced a new quality control process, adding 300 inspectors and engineers tasked with identifying and eliminating defects at the source. Ford will also use a larger sample pool to be tested on its 25-mile-long route facility, a big step compared to its previous QA process consisting of random spot checks for squeaks and rattles. The Blue Oval even went to great lengths, fitting cameras across the factory to identify problems that human eyes can’t notice, specifically in the electrical components and paint job department.
Let’s just hope these changes will be enough to bring Ford back on the right path, but YoY numbers sure seem to be pointing that way.
