Ford Pickups Face Probe After Stalling, Stranding Drivers - Bloomberg
(Bloomberg) -- The U. S. auto-safety regulator is investigating whether Ford Motor Co. went far enough with a recall of Super Duty pickups over complaints that they can stall and leave drivers stranded. The investigation covers about 200,000 vehicles from the 2011 and 2012 model years, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said in a notice posted to its website today. The action covers the F-250, F-350, F-450 and F-550. The trucks, which feature a 6. 7 liter turbo-diesel engine, can sell for as much as $69,250, according to the Dearborn, Michigan-based automaker’s website. One owner reported that a warning light indicated “Stop Safely Now” while driving and the truck lost all throttle response. An exhaust-gas sensor behind the diesel particulate filter in the trucks’ exhaust systems may malfunction, leading to warnings and sudden engine shutdowns, NHTSA said in its notice. Ford recalled about 3,000 Super Duty trucks in October 2013, specifically models that had been sold to be customized as ambulances. The regulator said it’s continued to get complaints about trucks covered by that recall, as well as others that weren’t. Some customers reported that sensors have been replaced multiple times and that their trucks became disabled in the roadway, the agency said. A Ford spokeswoman, Kelli Felker, said the company would cooperate with NHTSA on the investigation. Source: www.bloomberg.com
