Recall 14S21 - RESTRAINTS CONTROL MODULE REPLACEMENT

[IraF]

For those with FFH check your Vin# on Etis and see if this pertains to you

 

14S21 - RESTRAINTS CONTROL MODULE REPLACEMENT

[Mackx534]

I went to the site and entered my VIN and I see the following Outstanding Field Service Actions:

 

12M02 - SYNC WITH MYFORD/MYLINCOLN TOUCH - WARRANTY EXTENSION COVERING ACCESSORY PROTOCO L INTERFACE MODULE (APIM)

14B03 - FUEL ECONOMY CUSTOMER SATISFACTION

14E02 - POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE REPROGRAMMING

14S21 - RESTRAINTS CONTROL MODULE REPLACEMENT

 

Seems like it time to schedule a visit with the dealer.

[GrySql]

Thanks IraF - once again you're ahead of the curve.

(I changed the Topic title so it reflects the Recall number and reason)

 

The FSA states that there are not enough parts available for all the cars affected.

Please note the build date range of the cars involved.

For Fusions it is 02/03/2012 to 08/24/2013, later built cars are not affected.

For MKZ's it's 04/25/2012 to 09/30/2013 only.

 

R14S21A.PDF

 

Edited September 26, 2014 by GrySql

[thavil]

Thanks for the info, I'm showing the below on Etis:

 

Outstanding Field Service Actions

14B03 - FUEL ECONOMY CUSTOMER SATISFACTION

14E02 - POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE REPROGRAMMING

14S21 - RESTRAINTS CONTROL MODULE REPLACEMENT

[SteveB_TX]

Yup. Both our vehicles show it as well. And the hits just keep on coming! :zombi:

[GrySql]

The Center Console between the seats and part of the Center Stack needs to be removed to access the RCM, plus the SRS needs to be de-powered.

Removing the entire CC is a 11 point dis-assembly and requires some finesse.

 

That means the long drive to my super Dealership, not my local one.

[corncobs]

Yep the LiR needs a new RCM as well.

 

Hopefully they'll keep my interior lighting intact when they're removing the center console.

 

I might have to do some preparations with some disconnect plugs for the cup holder LEDs.

[Waldo]

Thanks IraF - once again you're ahead of the curve.

(I changed the Topic title so it reflects the Recall number and reason)

 

The FSA states that there are not enough parts available for all the cars affected.

Please note the build date range of the cars involved.

For Fusions it is 02/03/2012 to 08/24/2013, later built cars are not affected.

For MKZ's it's 04/25/2012 to 09/30/2013 only.

 

 

Lucky me, my car was built 8/28/2013. Missed the bad part by 3 production days!

[GrySql]

Just spoke with my S/A at my super Dealership and for this Recall 14S21 they will not repair/replace any vehicle that does not have the SRS Airbag Warning light on.

If the Airbag Warning Light is on they will give me a rental, order the parts required, park my car in back and twiddle their thumbs until such time as a part becomes available.

My S/A just confirmed this with their Parts Dept.

 

Conclusion:

Right now this is what the Service Dept calls an 'Advance Notice'.

Vehicles with Airbag Warning Lights illuminated have very first priority.

If you do not have an Airbag Warning Light on, they don't have a part for you. (Unless you qualify as a Special Service Support Center candidate)

Another message will be sent to Dealers when enough RCM's are in the supply chain to fulfill the replacement of all the 850,000+ vehicles that are noted in the Recall.

That may be weeks, months, years away. <-- :waiting:

 

( According to my Dealer anyway, YMMV.)

Edited September 26, 2014 by GrySql

[kbailey990]

I already had the "light show" of warning lights fixed a few months ago. I wonder if I got the new part or the old when mine went... I show the recall on ETIS, so I will have to get them to confirm the part number on the restraint module they installed was a new version.

[ceilidhdog]

I took my 2013 FFH SE to the dealer for its 10,000-mile maintenance last Friday. I asked them to do the PCM reprogram at the same time. The paperwork they gave me noted the work that was done, plus this: "Recall, Restraints Control Module Replacement, Advance Notice, No repair available at this time." I guess the dealer will notify me when they're able to do the work.

[jeff_h]

That may be weeks, months, years away. <-- :waiting:

 

You're not kidding... I still check my old hybrid VIN now and then, it still hasn't had 13S04 (another safety recall, for the fuel pump) completed -- 3 months after Ford released the updated bulletin of "sufficient supplies are now available to schedule all cars that need it", and even with involving the regional rep she confirmed sorry nope they had no idea when the part would be available for my VIN.

 

My Energi is due for inspection in December but I will hit 36k in November so will take it in then (in case they find something, so it can be covered under warranty) - sounds pretty doubtful that I'll get this 14S21 done in November.

[smr2112]

Just had this done as I was in for something else:

 

14E02 - POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE REPROGRAMMING

 

When I ran a VHR, it always said something like "No Information" related to the restraint system.

Had no ran in a while and have to rerun, but hard to tell from the explaination what this is exactly.

 

The additional update for RESTRAINTS CONTROL MODULE REPLACEMENT may not have

parts until Q3 2015 they told me. I did get just one false light for the airbag when I started the

car a month or so back, never happened again but wonder if this is related. Is a short circuiting

issue on the RCM. Ford will be mailing letters in Nov, but shows on owner.ford.com for me as

of today.

 

 

[GrySql]

I was looking in the Motorcraft Parts website and identified the RCM part.

It is Part # 14B321, Air Bag Monitor and is not available, it costs $458.32 retail.

 

It has a Part Supersession but the Part number didn't change:

Motorcraft Supersession info:

• 14B321 Replaced By 14B321

 

 

 

[smr2112]

Yea, they led me to believe the part is being redesigned/re-engineered. Same recall on Escapes and other models too I think.

 

BTW, I did not see anything having been reset with 14E02 - POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE REPROGRAMMING

and my VHR now comes up totally clean with no reference to unavailable data after this - just don't know it it is

related for sure.

[Barsoom]

Just checked ETIS, and my car has all the notices too.

 

And they just took apart the dash twice, too, once to replace the HVAC and once to the fix the rattle.

 

Question, is this a new Powertrain repogramming? Didn't we just have one done last year?

 

Also, I'm about to relocate from California to Texas (Houston). That means that I need to build a new relationship with a new dealer, just in time for this round of service.

 

Bummer, because my current dealer sold me the car and felt some sense of obligation...

[GrySql]

There are two Recall's.

The 14E02 Software Upgrade can be done easily, it's an Emission control fix. Your Dealer should have done it while the car was there, it's a quick job.

The second Recall is for this Restraints Control Module and there are no parts available, nor will there be for months and months (and months).

[Zathrus]

Yea, they led me to believe the part is being redesigned/re-engineered. Same recall on Escapes and other models too I think.

 

This article contains some more details on the Restraint Control Module failure (that now appears to be affecting both Ford and Chrysler):

 

http://www.automobilemag.com/features/news/1410-chrysler-ford-issue-recalls-for-supplemental-restraint-module/

[smr2112]

I got a random airbag light - just one time - on starting the car. Was puzzled, but never saw it again.

Hope it actually all works and that I don't need it!

 

Also got some form of "restraint system unavailable" in the past on my VHR, but not the most recent one I ran.

Anybody ever seen this?

 

I ask service if they can see the VHR or run the tests manually - answer was "no" - so what good is it?

Will run regularly, but without this point available, I doubt it means much.

[murphy]

If you run a VHR and then schedule your appointment through the Ford Owner site the VHR will be transmitted to the dealer. However I save the VHR as a pdf file every time I run it and can take a printout to the dealer. I had the can't contact the restraints system on a VHR several months ago. I took it to the dealer and they fixed it. I have no idea what they did but they used my phone to run a VHR before I left and then had me look at the result. It was fine and has not come back.

[hybridbear]

Zathrus, on 14 Oct 2014 - 1:19 PM, said:

 

This article contains some more details on the Restraint Control Module failure (that now appears to be affecting both Ford and Chrysler):

 

http://www.automobilemag.com/features/news/1410-chrysler-ford-issue-recalls-for-supplemental-restraint-module/

Thanks for sharing. It's interesting to learn more about the root cause. It's also interesting to see that another automaker is also plagued by this issue.

[hytibill]

I had my car in the shop to get the HVAC repaired when I realized that I also had to get the restraint module repaired. The dealer said that they found the airbag light was on, and that they'll also be repairing that as well. The service guys at Levittown Ford have been pretty solid so far. I hate the fact that my new car is going back for so many repairs but at least I feel that the guys repairing it are good at their jobs. =)

[Former Expedition owner]

I got a letter from Ford today regarding the "IMPORTANT SAFETY RECALL" 14S21.

 

Here's the gist of the letter:

 

If your airbag indicator is lit, call dealer and request service date.

 

If airbag warning light is not illuminated, no action to take at this time. When replacement parts are available, Ford will notify you by mail to contact your dealer to schedule a service appointment.

 

Parts for Safety Recall 14S21 are anticipated to be available in the third quarter of 2015. Ford is working with suppliers to accelerate part availability.

 

Time needed for repair is less than one-half day.

 

Representatives are available to answer questions about this recall by calling 1-866-436-7332.

 

The airbag light on my '13 HyTi is not illuminated.

[Scott029]

The airbag lights (2) have been on intermittently for the last month or so in my '13 fusion hybrid. Was planning on calling the dealer and got my recall letter yesterday.

Called the dealer & he has the part ordered & it will be repaired next Wednesday. Seems Ford could have sent out the letters a little sooner. I know they are short on parts

but letting owners know about this as early as possible would be the responsible thing to do.

[murphy]

They are extremely short on parts. If the airbag lights are not on, the repair won't be done until 3Q of 2015. It's not just Ford. Other manufacturers have the same problem.