Ford Motor Co. is recalling 565,691 Ford Broncos after determining a faulty wiring harness could start a fire in the vehicles’ engine compartment. At least 15 instances of fires have been reported to the automaker.
According to a filing with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the automaker’s Critical Concern Group opened an investigation into the problem June 18, to review “fire events” associated with the SUVs “to combine existing investigatory workstreams.”
What the group found that movement between the wiring harness and surrounding components can wear away protective coating on the harness. When this exposes the wiring and circuits underneath “intermittent shorts can create arcing.”
If the engine compartment is hot enough or there is a spark, it can create smoke making it hard for the driver to see. It can also ignite “flammable components” creating a fire. Both situations increase the possibility of injuries or a crash.
“Following a short circuit, a driver may notice smoke in their air vents or a cluster warning message prior to observing flames coming from the passenger side engine compartment area,” the report states. The company says it is not aware of any accidents or injuries due to this problem.
As of July 13, Ford noted, it is aware of two warranty reports, three field reports, one Customer Service Report, four Vehicle Owner Questionnaires, and 10 legal claims, representing a total of 15 incidents on 2021-2026 MY Bronco vehicles for which Ford has evidence a fire event may have originated from the engine compartment wiring harness, and which occurred between Oct. 15, 2024, and June 20, 2026.
Owners will be notified by mail to take their vehicle to the nearest Ford dealer, which will add convolute sheathing with abrasion tape to the wire harness — at no cost.
[Images: Ford]
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via Autobuzz Today
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