It has been a busy day for Ford Motor Company who announced it is recalling nearly 450,000 vehicles to repair problems that can cause gas tanks to leak fuel. The company said that a valve on a gasoline vapor recovery canister can stick, causing repeated air pressure changes in the gas tank that can eventually cause a crack and possible fuel leak. Affected vehicles include some 2010 and 2011 Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan sedans built in Mexico from July 21, 2008 through March 4, 2011. The company said there have been no reported fires or injuries as a result of the defect. Owners should take their vehicles to a Ford dealership for repairs, free-of-charge.
The automaker also announced a recall of its 2016 F-650 trucks over an issue with the steering column. The “park” position mechanism in the automatic transmission could fracture, potentially causing unintended movement. Dealers will replace the steering column and reconfigure the instrument panel at no cost to customers.
Although recalls before injuries occur are important pro-safety measures, automakers can and should do more to ensure that their vehicles are safe before releasing them to the public. As a safety measure, Lawsuit Financial encourages all vehicle owners to periodically check the NHTSA website for vehicle recalls and to register for an email notification if a recall is ever issued while you own the vehicle.
Mark Bello is the CEO and General Counsel of Lawsuit Financial Corporation, a pro-justice lawsuit funding company.
