- More than 164,000 of the impacted models are in Germany and were built between 2014 and 2020.
- It’s believed that hairline cracks in the particulate filter can cause vehicles to fail exhaust gas tests.
- Ford aims to notify all affected owners by year-end, offering free filter replacements.
Ford has an unwelcome holiday gift for more than 768,000 owners of its diesel cars around the world following news of a new recall. We suspect that Ford—which has been striving to improve quality and reduce recalls—would have preferred to end the calendar year on a more positive note than this.
News of the recall first emerged in Germany, where it was confirmed to have impacted 164,168 vehicles. This includes the Ford EcoSport, Fiesta, Focus, B-Max, C-Max, Galaxy, Kuga, Mondeo, Grand C-Max, Ranger, S-Max, Tourneo Connect, Transit Connect, and Transit Courier, which were assembled between 2014 and 2020.
Read: Ford Hit With Second-Biggest Fine Ever For Botched Recall
There’s a problem with the diesel particulate filters on the affected models, with Ford reportedly becoming aware of a potential issue in mid-2023 after using new testing methods. Hairline cracks appeared on the filters, resulting in failed exhaust gas tests. In total, 768,927 diesel models are being recalled worldwide, although it’s unclear which markets these cars are located in.
Owners of impacted vehicles will be notified of the recall before the end of this year. In Germany, owners will be asked to take their vehicle to a Ford dealer, where the particulate filter will be checked and replaced if it’s been damaged. The carmaker will assess individual cases if owners have already paid out of pocket to have the particulate filter repaired or replaced and determine if reimbursements will be provided. Newly installed filters will include a 10-year/160,000 km warranty.
Anyone who owns an impacted vehicle outside of Germany would be wise to look for news from local safety agencies to receive up-to-date information about the recall process.
