Recall 15S14 - Steering Gear Motor Bolt Corrosion

[hybridbear]

There is a new recall: 15S14 Steering Gear Motor Bolt Corrosion

 

This appears to affect all 2013-2015 Fusions & MKZs built at Hermosillo. The date range shows: 2013 Job 1 through March 20,2015 for MKZs and March, 19, 2015 for Fusions.

 

Owner notification will happen in June. Currently dealers are instructed to repair any unsold vehicles following instructions provided by Ford. At this time there are no parts or instructions available to repair vehicles that have been sold. Those instructions will be provided the week of June 15, 2015. The instructions currently provided to dealers just call for rust-proofing the bolts already installed on the cars on their lots. It's possible that instructions for vehicles already on the road will include part replacement.

 

This recall applies to the affected vehicles originally sold in, or currently registered in the following
states:

• Connecticut
• Iowa
• Minnesota
• Ohio
• Wisconsin
• Delaware
• Maine
• Missouri
• Pennsylvania
• District of Columbia
• Maryland
• New Hampshire
• Rhode Island
• Illinois
• Massachusetts
• New Jersey
• Vermont
• Indiana
• Michigan
• New York
• West Virginia

Affected vehicles are identified in OASIS.

 

Sorry the state list is in a goofy order. Ford had the data in a table that went down then across alphabetically which didn't copy well to the forum.

REASON FOR THIS SAFETY RECALL
In some of the affected vehicles, when operated in high-corrosion environments associated with road
salt use, one or more of the three steering gear motor attachment bolts may fracture due to corrosion
cracking. If this occurs, it may result in a loss of power steering assist, increasing the risk of a crash.
The mechanical linkage between the steering wheel and the road is maintained at all times. The
steering system will default to manual steering mode, allowing the vehicle to be steered in a safe and
controlled manner.

Recall 15S14.pdf

[GrySql]

My California car does not have this Recall listed in OASIS.

[murphy]

My California car does not have this Recall listed in OASIS.

My Pennsylvania car does in my Ford Owner account.

Now two outstanding recalls. Door handles and steering bolts. It would be three but I got the RCM replaced.

[SteveB_TX]

Hmmm. Is anyone else reminded of the killer airbag recall snafu? The powers that be insisted all vehicles that have the bad airbags in them be fixed, while the airbag company (can't think of the name) refused and only wanted to replace them in high humidity states. Seems the same here. What will happen if either our FFH or MKZh eventually ends up in one of the recall listed states? Will the VIN flag to Ford that it is now registered in a state subject to the recall? I think Ford better rethink how they are doing this recall. :lurk:

Edited April 29, 2015 by SteveB_TX

[GrySql]

^^^ +1 ^^^

[Cobra348]

My production date is March 16, 2015 - started. That puts Nytwing sort of in the range, but it wasn't done until about March 25th. Ford Owner shows no notifications ... yet. Maybe I can get lucky and miss this one?

 

Edit 05/15: Nytwing still has no notice on this on Ford Owner site. Will keep checking but I'm thinking I might have just missed it.

Edited May 15, 2015 by Cobra348

[acdii]

Hmm, I wonder... nah too simple, probably not. Not showing as a recall yet, FSAN 14B03

[jeff_h]

"This recall applies to the affected vehicles originally sold in, or currently registered in the following states:"

Both of mine are registered in VA (thus would not qualify) but were both purchased at different dealers that were both in MD (is on the list, thus they should qualify) -- but neither car shows the recall in the Ford owner account. I guess I'll keep checking now and then.

[hybridbear]

Interesting points regarding the comparison to Takata. Did the push to replace airbags in all states ever win? I think Takata won that fight to isolate the recall to certain states.

 

We don't even know what Ford will do for our cars yet. All the dealership bulletin says is that they should spray rust-proofing stuff on the new cars on their lot and that in June they'll be told what to do with cars already on the road.

[FernMTL]

The 2013 Fiesta had a similar recall. We had to replace the bolt at the pivot point of the steering column. The bolt was rusting!! Hope it's just that.

BTW, recall effective in Canada too.

Edited May 15, 2015 by FernMTL

[Ram]

Nothing received here in VA.

[Richard Macbeth]

I now show that my 2015 FFH needs 15R01 EPS MOTOR BOLTS - REGIONAL and I live in Abingdon VA.

[billford]

I had a chance to compare the factory bolts (left) to the recall replacement bolts (right)

 

 

3 bolts that hold the motor to the steering rack are replaced and a special anti corrosion coating is applied to all the other bolts.

 

The replacement bolts are steel. The original bolts are not.

 

I don't know what the original bolts are made out of, but they are extremely lightweight. 3 of the original bolts weigh less than 1 replacement bolt. Seems Ford cheaped out on these bolts and I'm not surprised that they break, leading to this recall.

[Texasota]

Only speculation on my part, but the motivation could have been for weight savings as opposed to cost. Manufactures have been looking for weight savings everywhere.

[larrylwill]

Is this the same recall? I called my local repair shop and they said to bring it in . Im in Alabama, no salt on the roads here. I found it ONLY when I did a vehicle check from sync.

 

• VIN: 3FA6P0LU8ER206345
  FAS Title: EPS MOTOR BOLTS - REGIONAL
  Field Service Action Number: 15R01

Edited February 6, 2016 by larrylwill

[jeff_h]

 

Is this the same recall? I called my local repair shop and they said to bring it in . Im in Alabama, no salt on the roads here. I found it ONLY when I did a vehicle check from sync.

 

• VIN: 3FA6P0LU8ER206345

  FAS Title: EPS MOTOR BOLTS - REGIONAL

  Field Service Action Number: 15R01

 

Yes I believe it is the same, was originally announced as 15S14 for those cars in the salt states, then expanded as 15R01 to cover cars in other states for inspection of the components and replacement if needed.

[rwhgme]

So..just a thought...you relocate from Florida to Michigan..would your car need this recall? Would it be covered?

[ElectricFan69]

So..just a thought...you relocate from Florida to Michigan..would your car need this recall? Would it be covered?

Likely, yes, as the corrosion environment changes for the worse. Also, if you drive on the beach - or live on the beach and its frequent salt spray, the corrosion profile is similar.

[Hybrider]

So..just a thought...you relocate from Florida to Michigan..would your car need this recall? Would it be covered?

 

I would think Ford has extended this steering bolt FSA to just about all Fusions which are affected by now since it appears for mine here in AZ.

 

You can click on this link below and enter your VIN (no sign-in required) and it will show the FSAs and recalls on that vehicle.

 

http://owner.ford.com/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=Owner/Page/RecallsPage&gnav=footer-owners

 

This is what that page shows for my FFH.

[Hybrider]

... Would it be covered?

 

The PDF attached to this post shows the complete details about the 15R01 FSA/Recall.

 

http://fordfusionhybridforum.com/topic/9347-recalls-csps-gsms-and-outstanding-field-service-actions-fsas/?do=findComment&comment=98157

Edited February 8, 2016 by Hybrider

[flipz1]

my 2015 ford fusion energy  had the steering rack going out on it.  My mechanic said it was the bolts broke, which is what the recall is for and i live in MO.  My vin does not fit the recall because mine was not built at one of the two plants that had a recall since its an energy, but i guarantee its the same parts.  Mine was built in jan 15, which fits the recall.  Beyond frustrated.

[Waldo]

Huh?  The Energi was built in Hermosillo right along with all the other Fusions.  Doesn't make sense that the recall doesn't apply, but it could be that the recall had already been performed.