DETROIT– The U.S. government’s auto safety agency has opened an investigation into a Ford recall over gasoline leaks from cracked fuel injectors that can cause engine fires, saying in documents that the remedy does not fix the leaks.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said in documents posted on its website Friday that the investigation “will evaluate the appropriateness and safety impact of the remedy” Ford specifies in the recall.
The agency acted with unusual speed, posting documents detailing the “recall demand” just two days after the recall was made public.
The recall affects nearly 43,000 Ford Bronco Sport SUVs from the 2022 and 2023 model years, and 2022 Escape SUVs. All have 1.5-liter engines.
NHTSA said fuel injectors can crack, causing gasoline or vapors to leak at high speed onto hot surfaces in the engine compartment.
The Associated Press reported Wednesday that Ford’s fix for the leaks is the installation of a drain tube to direct the gas away from hot surfaces, and a software update to detect a pressure drop in the fuel injection system. When that happens, the software turns off the high-pressure fuel pump, reduces engine power and lowers the temperature in the engine compartment. Owners will also receive the message ‘looking for service’.
But the safety agency said Ford’s solution allows fuel to flow from a cylinder head hole to the ground beneath the vehicles. “The recall does not include the replacement of the cracked fuel injector,” the agency said.
A message was left early Friday seeking comment from Ford on the investigation.
Ford said it has reports of five underhood fires and 14 fuel injector replacements under warranty, but no reports of crashes or injuries.
In an email Wednesday, Ford said it is not replacing the fuel injectors because it is confident the recall repairs “will prevent the failure and protect the customer.” The new software activates a warning light on the dashboard and allows customers to drive to a safe location, stop the vehicle and schedule service, the company said. NHTSA documents filed by Ford say the problem only affects about 1% of SUVs.
The company also said it will expand warranty coverage for cracked fuel injectors so that owners who experience the problem will receive replacements. Ford said repairs are already available and details on the extended warranty will be available in June.
Ford said the recall is an extension of a 2022 recall for the same problem. The fix has already been tested on vehicles involved in the previous recall, and Ford said it has no known issues.
The company also said it does not recommend parking the SUVs outdoors alone because there is no evidence of fires starting when vehicles are parked and the engines are turned off.
Michael Brooks, executive director of the nonprofit Center for Auto Safety, called Ford’s fix for the fuel leaks a “Band-Aid recall” and said the company is trying to avoid the cost of repairing the fuel injectors.