Ford finally recalls Kuga SUVs

Almost 50 Kuga fires have been reported in South Africa so far. Picture: Supplied.

Almost 50 Kuga fires have been reported in South Africa so far. Picture: Supplied.

Published Jan 16, 2017

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Ford is finally recalling its 1.6-litre Kuga SUVs in South Africa following a spate of engine fires that have left owners scared and angry.

At a press briefing hosted by the National Consumer Commission, Ford SA CEO Jeff Nemeth said that while the company continues to investigate the numerous engine fires, current data has lead them to believe that the fires started as a result of oil leaks caused by engine overheating.

The nasty chain of events, according to Ford, starts with poor engine coolant circulation causing the engine to overheat, which can then lead to a crack in the cylinder head, after which oil leaks out onto hot engine components.

While original reports indicated that 6300 vehicles were affected, Ford’s investigation has narrowed that number down to 4556 1.6-litre EcoBoost models that were built between December 2012 and February 2014.

Nemeth urged affected customers to take their vehicles to a dealer as soon as possible, and this includes those that have already been ‘ checked’. The recall, which Ford refers to as “voluntary”, involves replacing affected components in the cooling system, verifying and updating the software and conducting an oil leak check on the cylinder head.

At least 46 1.6-litre turbo-charged Ford Kugas are known to have caught fire in South Africa, two in the last week alone. Although Mr Nemeth said that it wasn't aware of any injuries that had occurred, it is well known, and widely reported, that Reshall Jimmy was killed after being trapped in his burning Kuga in December 2015.

Reshall’s sister Renisha launched a campaign to raise awareness, including the creation of a Facebook page called Ford Vehicles Burning, aimed at tracking down victims of the reported fault. Jimmy also said that the majority of Kuga owners who had been affected had agreed to bring a class-action lawsuit against Ford SA.

Back in December, Ford SA asked Kuga owners to take their vehicles to their nearest Ford dealer for a safety inspection. However, one owner said his car burnt out just days after taking his vehicle for an inspection. They had assured him that his car would be fine as long as the coolant level was correct.

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