Ford is recalling 2,925,968 vehicles in the United States because of defective transmissions. Vehicles registered in Germany are not affected.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the car manufacturer Ford have initiated a recall campaign (22V-413) for 2,925,968 vehicles. On affected vehicles, the bushing that attaches the shift cable to the transmission may become damaged or come loose. A damaged or missing bushing can prevent the shift lever from shifting the transmission into the intended gear position.
When the vehicle's ignition is on, the instrument panel display in the instrument cluster may show a transmission status, which may not match the position of the gear lever position. For example, the driver cannot start a vehicle parked in "Park" because this only works if the transmission is actually in Park. Or, exiting the vehicle without actually putting the transmission in park and applying the parking brake may also cause the vehicle to move, increasing the risk of injury or an accident. The driver receives neither a warning message nor an acoustic signal. Ford's causal research has shown that heat and moisture can contribute to hydrological degradation of the bushing material.
The following Ford model series are affected by the recall:
Owners will be notified by mail and instructed to take their vehicle to a Ford or Lincoln dealership to have the underhood shift bushing replaced and a protective cap over the shift cable bushing. This service is free. According to Ford Germany, vehicles registered in Germany are not affected.
Conclusion
Ford has to make improvements to 2,925,968 vehicles in different model series. On affected vehicles, the bushing that attaches the shift cable to the transmission may become damaged or come loose. A damaged or missing bushing can prevent the shift lever from shifting the transmission into the intended gear position.
