American car manufacturer Ford has announced a product recall in North America for the 2018 Ford F-150, Expedition, and Lincoln Navigator vehicles that are equipped with a 3.5-liter GTDI V6 engine. This recall is due to high-pressure fuel pumps with misaligned welds that could potentially raise the risk of fires. The recall affects around 7,580 vehicles in North America, with 5,645 in the United States and its territories, 1,625 in Canada, and 310 in Mexico.
According to a statement from Ford, the high-pressure fuel pump assembly might have insufficient welds between the pump housing and its mounting flange. This deficiency could lead to high-cycle fatigue fractures in the fuel pump welds on these vehicles. Consequently, the fuel pump may shift relative to its mounting flange, causing a potential loss in the sealing integrity of the cam cover or the fuel lines, resulting in an oil or fuel leak that heightens the risk of fires.
The vehicles included in this recall are the 2018 Ford F-150 trucks that were manufactured at the Dearborn Truck Plant between March 14, 2018, and April 24, 2018, as well as those built at the Kansas City Assembly Plant between March 20, 2018, and April 17, 2018. The recall also covers the 2018 Ford Expedition SUVs that were produced at the Kentucky Truck Plant between March 14, 2018, and April 12, 2018, and the 2018 Lincoln Navigator SUVs assembled at the Kentucky Truck Plant between February 20, 2018, and May 6, 2018.
At present, no incidents related to this issue have been reported. Ford has confirmed that there have been no fires, accidents, or injuries linked to this particular condition. Dealers have been directed to replace the high-pressure fuel pump, high-pressure fuel discharge tube, and the mounting bolts for the high-pressure pump and discharge tube at no expense to the customers.
