Ford is recalling 1.4 million vehicles because the steering wheels can become loose and even come off while driving.

The automaker says it is aware of two accidents and one injury that may have been caused by the problem.

The affected models are the Ford Fusion and the Lincoln MKZ, both from model years 2014-2018.

Ford (F) said the problem is that a steering wheel bolt could come loose, which could cause the steering wheel to potentially detach.

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The recall applies to every version of the Fusion:

--Fusion S

--Fusion SE

--Hybrid S

--Hybrid SE

--Hybrid Titanium

--Energi SE

--Energi Titanium

--Fusion Sport

--Fusion Platinum

--Fusion Hybrid Platinum

--Fusion Energi Platinum

The recall also applies to every version of the Lincoln MKZ:

--Lincoln MKZ Premier

--Lincoln MKZ Hybrid Premier

--Lincoln MKZ Black Label

The company recalled another 6,000 Fusion and Focus models due to a risk of fire from a fracture in the clutch pressure plate:

--Ford Focus model years 2013-16 with the Fox GTDI engine and B6 manual transmissions.

--Ford Fusion moel years 2013-15, with the Sigma GTDI engines and B6 manual transmissions.</s>Ford is recalling 1.4 million vehicles because the steering wheels can become loose and even come off while driving.

The automaker says it is aware of two accidents and one injury that may have been caused by the problem.

The affected models are the Ford Fusion and the Lincoln MKZ, both from model years 2014-2018.

Ford said the problem is that a steering wheel bolt could come loose, which could cause the steering wheel to potentially detach.

The company also announced a recall of another 6,000 vehicles due to a risk of fire from a clutch pressure plate fracture. But all those recalled cars are manual transmission cars, which are not commonly sold. The affected models are 2013-16 Ford Focuses and 2013-15 Ford Fusions.</s>Ford is recalling 1.4 million vehicles because the steering wheels can become loose and even come off while driving.

The automaker says it is aware of two accidents and one injury that may have been caused by the problem.

The affected models are the Ford Fusion and the Lincoln MKZ, both from model years 2014-2018.

Ford (F) said the problem is that a steering wheel bolt could come loose, which could cause the steering wheel to potentially detach.

The recall applies to every version of the Fusion:

The recall also applies to every version of the Lincoln MKZ:

The company recalled another 6,000 Fusion and Focus models due to a risk of fire from a fracture in the clutch pressure plate:

--Ford Focus model years 2013-16 with the Fox GTDI engine and B6 manual transmissions. 

--Ford Fusion moel years 2013-15, with the Sigma GTDI engines and B6 manual transmissions.</s>Ford recalls 1.4 million cars because steering wheel can come off

Ford is recalling 1.4 million vehicles because the steering wheels can become loose and even come off while driving.

The automaker says it is aware of two accidents and one injury that may have been caused by the problem.

The affected models are the Ford Fusion and the Lincoln MKZ, both from model years 2014-2018.

Ford said the problem is that a steering wheel bolt could come loose, which could cause the steering wheel to potentially detach. – READ MORE</s>The Ford Motor Company might be ahead of the curve when it comes to integrating Apple’s Siri into its cars, but the automaker tasking itself with building a fully robotic car by 2021 has a major problem on its hands. Quite literally, in fact, for USA Today is reporting that Ford has issued a recall for nearly 1.4 million of its various models due to a “potentially loose” steering wheel. So while Siri might be able to help you pick a favorite song or text some grocery list additions to your spouse, it probably won’t be able to help you with a nonexistent means of steering.

Ford Motor said Wednesday that it is issuing a safety recall for the 2014 through 2018 model-year Ford Fusion and Lincoln MKZ sedans. The recall comes after officials discovered that the cars have “potentially loose steering wheel bolts that could result in a steering wheel detaching from the steering column,” Ford said in a statement.

The recall will presumably affect around 1.3 million vehicles in the United States, 62,000 in Canada, and 14,000 in Mexico. Ford and Lincoln customers with the identified makes and models in need of repairs will be notified when they can visit authorized dealers. Due to the nature of the recall, the requisite repairs made to the Fusion and MKZ’s steer wheel installations will be free of charge. Two accidents and one injury have been associated with the faulty steering wheel problem, according to Ford’s statement.</s>Ford Motor Company said Wednesday that it will recall more than 1.3 million mid-size sedans–certain years of the Ford Fusion and Lincoln MKZ four-doors–over concerns that their steering wheels may come loose.

A faulty bolt that holds the wheel to the steering column is to blame. Ford says it has received reports of two accidents including one injury because of the faulty bolts. To repair the faulty vehicles, Ford dealers have been instructed to install a longer lock nut with what the automaker says is "more robust thread engagement" in place of the faulty bolt.

Models covered in the recall include the 2014-2018 Ford Fusion and the 2014-2018 Lincoln MKZ. The affected vehicles were built in Ford's Flat Rock, Michigan, and Hermosillo, Mexico, assembly plants between July of 2013 and March of 2018.

Owners of vehicles covered in the recall will receive notices in the mail. The notice will direct them to contact a dealer for a free service that will replace the faulty bolts.

Of the affected Fusions and MKZs, just over 1.3 million were sold in the U.S., with about 62,000 in Canada and 14,000 in Mexico covered under the same recall.

Separately, Ford said Wednesday that it will also recall and repair about 6,000 2013-2016 Focus and Fusion cars with manual transmissions. Ford will perform software updates and will inspect clutches over concerns of premature wear that could cause a fire.

Ford said in a press release that "repeated cyclic heating and cooling events may cause cracks around the outer edge of the pressure plate" in the clutch assembly on 2013-2016 Ford Focus compact cars with a 1.0-liter 3-cylinder engine and 2013-2015 Ford Fusion mid-size sedans with a 1.6-liter 4-cylinder engine. A crack in the clutch pressure plate could cause flammable transmission fluid to leak, but Ford says it isn't aware of any fires or injuries stemming from the issue.</s>March 14 (UPI) -- U.S. automaker Ford announced two new safety recalls Wednesday for more than one million cars that may have loose steering wheels.

Ford said about 1.3 million Ford Fusion and Lincoln MKZ vehicles -- model years between 2014 and 2018 -- sold in North America are involved in the recall.

The automaker said loose steering wheel bolts may not hold and cause the wheel to disconnect. Ford said it's aware of two incidents involving the wheel, one which led to an injury.

Dealers will replace the bolts and install a nylon patch to keep the bolts properly torqued.

Ford said the recall involves 1,301,986 vehicles sold in the United States, 62,479 in Canada and 14,172 in Mexico. It involves vehicles made in Ford's Flat Rock, Mich., plant from 2013 to 2016, and in its Hermosillo, Mexico, plant from 2013 to 2018.

The company also announced the recall of certain 2013-2016 Ford Focus and Fusion models for possible fractures of the clutch pressure plate, which can cause fires.

Focus models with a 1.0 liter Fox GTDI engine and B6 manual transmission, and Fusion models with the 1.6 liter Sigma GTDI engine and B6 manual transmission, are involved. The recall involves approximately 5,872 vehicles in North America, with 5,357 in the United States and 515 in Canada, Ford said.</s>CBS Local — Ford is recalling over 1.3 million cars after the company found that two of their manufacturing plants rolled out vehicles with loose steering wheels. The problem is so bad that Ford is warning drivers their steering wheels could come off while customers are on the road.

Ford Motor Company issued the March 14 recall that affects multiple versions of their Ford Fusion and Lincoln MKZ models in North America. According to Ford, the recall stems from “potentially loose steering wheel bolts that could result in a steering wheel detaching from the steering column.”

Ford added that if the flaw is not corrected the wheel may come off while someone is driving and “lead to a loss of steering control and increased risk of a crash.”

The auto maker says the steering wheel issue affects 2014-17 Ford Fusions made at the Flat Rock Assembly Plant in Michigan from Aug. 6, 2013 to Feb. 29, 2016. The recall also affects the Hermosillo Assembly Plant in Mexico where 2014-2018 Fusions and Lincoln MKZs were assembled from July 25, 2013 to March 5, 2018.

In total, the recall includes 1,378,637 cars across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico however, less than 80,000 of those cars were sold outside of the United States. Ford promises to replace the loose bolts with a longer and “more robust” part at no cost to the owners.

In the same March 14 announcement, Ford also recalled 6,000 manual transmission cars because of a clutch plate defect that could start a fire. That warning includes 2013-15 Ford Fusions produced by the same Mexican plant that was responsible for the steering wheel recall.</s>Nearly 1.4M Ford, Lincoln cars recalled; steering wheel can come loose

DETROIT (AP) — Under pressure from U.S. regulators, Ford is recalling nearly 1.4 million midsize cars in North America because the steering wheels can detach from the steering column and drivers could lose control.

The recall covers certain Ford Fusion and Lincoln MKZ cars from the 2014 through 2018 model years.

Ford says steering wheel bolts can loosen over time. The company says it knows of two crashes and one injury caused by the problem.

Dealers will replace the bolts with longer ones that have more aggressive threads and a nylon patch to stop them from coming loose. Owners will be notified by mail the week of April 30, and parts are expected to be available by then.

Just over 1.3 million cars in the U.S. are being recalled, with the rest in Canada and Mexico.

The recall comes about five months after the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration opened an investigation into steering wheels falling off of Fusions from the 2014 through 2016 model years.

The safety agency said in documents that it began the probe after receiving three complaints, including one from a driver from Georgia who reported that the steering wheel in a 2015 Fusion fell into their lap when turning into a gas station.

Two other people reported that the bolt attaching the wheel to the steering column came loose while driving and had to be retightened at a repair shop. At the time the agency had no reports of crashes or injuries.

Ford isn't the only manufacturer to issue a recall for steering wheels coming off. In February, Hyundai recalled 43,900 vehicles which were at risk of the steering wheel breaking away from the steering column. That recall affected the 2018 Santa Fe and Santa Fe Sport SUVs.</s>Ford has issued a safety compliance recall for select Ford Fusion and Lincoln MKZ vehicles for potentially loose steering wheel bolts that over time could lead to the steering wheel detaching from its assembly. Yes, you read that right, the steering could literally come off while you're driving.

The automaker estimates that this issue affects 1.3 million vehicles manufactured between 2014 and 2018 across several American and Mexican assembly plants. According to a statement by Ford Motor Company, the steering wheel bolt may not maintain its torque rating due to a design flaw, which could lead the bolt to loosen over time and the steering wheel to detach. Obviously, the threat of this happening while the vehicle is being driven poses an infinite danger to the occupants and other innocent bystanders.

Out of the 1,378,637 affected vehicles in North America, 1,301,986 are in the United States, 62,479 in Canada and 14,172 in Mexico. Dealerships will replace the steering wheel bolt with a longer bolt with more robust thread engagement and larger nylon patch for proper torque retention. Owners should call their local Ford dealer and reference recall number 18S08.

This recall is one of several that Ford Motor Company has issued in recent months, including one that involves 1.3 million Ford Explorer SUVs for exhaust fumes leaks, and another for front seats that weren't properly tightened and could become loose while driving. Of course, the Blue Oval is still dealing with Takata-related safety recalls, which involve another 36,000 Ford Ranger midsize pickup trucks.
Ford issues a recall of 1.4 million vehicles, including some models of the Ford Fusion and the Lincoln MKZ, citing an issue where the steering wheel could come loose.