August 14, 2012: Ford India has said it has recalled over 128,000 units of its Figo and Classic cars to rectify problems related to steering and rear suspension. The recall impacts different batches of cars made between January 2008 and December 2010, and from September 2010 till February 2011.
According to a company statement issued late yesterday, Ford India rolled out a voluntary and pre-emptive Field Service Action (FSA) starting July 23 to inspect certain batches of its Figo and Classic models for potential issues related to the Rear Twist Beam (RTB) and the Power Steering Hose (PAS). The FSA exercise will see the company’s authorised dealerships all over the country inspect the RTB, and replace it if found defective.
"With respect to the RTB issue, a total of 111,000 vehicles will be inspected in India. Ford Figo and Ford Classic (formerly Fiesta) sold from January 2008 till December 2010 will need to be inspected but will not necessarily need part replacements," says Ford India.
According to the company, the issue is a potential crack in the RTB which first manifests itself in the form of an abnormal noise from the rear. "If the vehicle is continued to be driven and the noise symptoms are ignored, it could lead to the RTB unit breaking, resulting in diminished ride and handling and brake performance -- potentially rendering the vehicle inoperable," the statement added.
In addition, all Ford Figo and Ford Classic petrol-engined vehicles manufactured from September 2010 till February 2011 will have the power assisted steering (PAS) hose replaced as a precautionary measure and to ensure the long-term durability of the vehicle. The issue identified, according to the Ford statement, has the potential for an oil leak in the PAS hose which could result in fumes being emitted from the area causing the leak. It may also be possible for power steering fluid to come into contact with the vehicle’s exhaust components causing smoke and, in extreme cases, leading to a fire.
A total of 17,655 units of the Ford Figo and Ford Classic produced and sold in India from September 2010 till February 2011 will be replaced for the PAS hose issue.
This is one of the biggest recalls in recent times far surpassing the 72,115 Citys that were recalled by Honda last year. The Figo is one of the mainstays of Ford India and the company sells on average 5,000 cars a month.
Ford India’s official statement on the recall comes three weeks after the carmaker began to voluntarily inspect the cars. Commenting on the recall, Vishnu Mathur, director general of SIAM, said that it is a positive step as customers will feel confident about the company not hiding defects in the car and coming forth to repair it. He added that Ford India has followed all the prescriptions set down by SIAM in its Voluntary Code of Vehicle Recall. It has written to the government about it, contacted the customers and put up the information on the recall on its website.
Ford India will drive this FSA initiative through its authorised dealers. No injuries related to the RTB or PAS issues have been reported so far, according to the company. The carmaker is contacting owners of the potentially affected vehicles via customer letters and through its nationwide dealership network. Owners can also contact their local dealers, or call Ford India Customer Relations Group on a toll-free number: 1800 419 9889.