Pretoria - Sales of Ford Kuga models have been badly dented by Ford South Africa's safety recall of 4 566 Kuga 1.6-litre models last month to address an engine overheating problem that has caused fires in at least 39 of the cars.
Figures released this week revealed that only 74 Kuga models were sold last month.
This is a considerable slump over the 146 units sold in December, with sales of the model much lower than the 281 units sold in January last year.
Alisea Chetty, a spokesperson for Ford South Africa, said on Friday that the 1.6-litre petrol Ford Kuga model was discontinued in 2014.
Despite criticism of the way Ford SA had managed the engine overheating problem, the vehicle manufacturer reported that sales of Ford vehicles had remained resilient last month.
It reported a total of 6 634 vehicle sales last month, which was 1.7 percent higher than the corresponding month last year.
Gerhard Herselman, the general sales manager for the Ford Motor Company sub-Saharan Africa region, said the company was encouraged by, and grateful for, the continued customer confidence in the Ford brand and its current range of products despite the challenges related to the 1.6 Kuga recall involving 1.6-litre Kuga units sold in South Africa in 2013 and 2014.
Herselman said Ford was actively addressing the issue of the Kuga 1.6 safety recall and was “absolutely committed to doing right by their customers” in South Africa.
“We appreciate our customers standing by us through this difficult period as we focus on resolving these issues and delivering vehicles that are designed and manufactured with the highest standards of safety, technology, reliability and value for money,” he said.
Ford SA announced the recall last month when National Consumer Commission (NCC) commissioner Ebrahim Mohamed informed Ford of the NCC’s decision to authorise a safety recall of the model if Ford did not come up with another proposal.
Jeff Nemeth, the president and chief executive of Ford’s sub-Saharan Africa region, said at a joint media briefing with the NCC last month that based on current data, Ford had determined that the fires were due to overheating caused by a lack of coolant circulation, which could lead to a cracking in the cylinder head and therefore an oil leak.
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“If the leaking oil reaches a hot engine component, it can potentially catch fire.”
Nemeth confirmed on Friday that Ford SA met the NCC this week to update it on the progress made on the 1.6-litre engine Kugas affected by the safety recall.
He added that there had not been any incidents reported since the launch of the safety recall on January 16.
Nemeth said Ford SA knew the engine compartment fire incidents in Ford Kuga 1.6-litre vehicles in South Africa had created concerns for Kuga owners and their safety was Ford's priority.
He said Ford recognised that during the initial process customers and the public were not well enough informed about the situation.
“For that Ford sincerely apologises,” he said.
Nemeth said it was flying in parts for the safety recall to alleviate the shortage and all outstanding parts would arrive by the middle of this month.