Ford Recalls

Sport utility vehicles equipped with 4.0L engines and All-time 4-Wheel Drive (A4WD) powertrains. The generic electronic module (GEM) could experience a condition referred to as "lock-up" in which the GEM controlled electronic functions (e.g., front windshield wipers, interior lights, 4x4 system, etc.) could not be turned ON or, in some cases if the function is ON, could not be turned OFF.

Bolts which attach the trailer hitch assembly to the frame in sport utility vehicles could lose the clamp load. The trailer hitch could then separate from the vehicle.

Ford has expanded this recall to include later model vehicles. This recall involves passenger vehicles not equipped with an anti-lock braking system (ABS). A "pressure conscious reducing valve" (PCRV) in the rear brakes may be subject to corrosion and result in malfunction when operated in areas that use salt compounds on the roadway for de-icing or dust control. If both PCRV's malfunction, vehicle handling could be adversely affected during braking from rear wheel lockup, increasing the risk of a crash.

On certain cutaways and stripped chassis with single rear wheels, the lug nuts can potentially bottom out on the shoulder of the studs. If this occurs, there will be inadequate clamp load to attach the wheel to the axle hub, resulting in noise, damage to the wheel and hub, and possibly loss of the rear wheel while the vehicle is being driven.

On certain passenger vehicles, a windshield wiper control module may not be capable of carrying the current required during high load conditions on the wipers (i.e., ice, snow or other debris), and could potentially result in inoperative wipers with no advance warning.

Certain minivans may have incorrect fuel line end forms that result in a lower than specified pull apart force for the installed fuel line connection.

Certain 4-door sport utility vehicles equipped with side air bags have a revised level side crash sensor that could deploy the side air bag if the ignition key is in the "run" position and the seatbelt webbing is forcibly extracted from a locked retractor with a jerking motion. Inadvertent side air bag deployment could cause personal injury to the seat occupant.

Certain passenger vehicles have jacking instructions, which if followed, could cause the vehicle operator to place the jack on a frame weld when attempting to raise a rear wheel. If the vehicle is jacked up with the jack placed on the frame weld and if the vehicle is free to roll (wheels not blocked or chocked), the jack could yield and the vehicle may drop suddenly. If this occurs and any portion of the operator's body is under the vehicle, the potential for personal injury exists.

On certain sport utility vehicles equipped with speed control, the speed control cable may be defective and malfunction or allow water into the cable, eventually causing corrosion that could interfere with the function of the speed control. If either of these conditions occurs and the speed control is used, the speed control could prevent the throttle from returning to idle, resulting in a stuck throttle. A stuck throttle could result in a crash.

These minivans may have been built with incorrect urethane, resulting in an adhesive bond rather than the intended molecular bond for the front windshield and rear liftgate glass. If the bond deteriorates, it could provide less than the intended level of glass retention in the event of a crash.