Ford recalls new Explorer, Expedition, Navigator, Nautilus, Super Duty

DETROIT – Ford issued four safety recalls Friday in North America for recent models of its top-selling SUVs and trucks, suggesting that consumers take the vehicles to dealers for review, repair or replacement to prevent risk of injury.

The alert applies to the 2018 Ford Explorer, 2019 Ford Super Duty, 2018 Ford Expedition, 2018 Lincoln Navigator and the 2019 Lincoln Nautilus.

"As part of our quality process, we are identifying and addressing issues quickly on behalf of our customers. We recognize the inconvenience recalls cause customers," Ford spokeswoman Elizabeth Weigandt said.

The company noted that it is not aware of any accidents, injuries or fires to date related to the latest recalls.

► Nov. 1:Subaru, Toyota recall 165,000 U.S. cars with engine-stalling defect
► Oct. 25:Ford recalls 1.5 million Ford Focus cars that could stall
► Oct. 23:BMW expands recall to 1.6 million vehicles worldwide over fire risk

In October, Ford issued a recall of nearly 1.3 million Ford Focus cars because of stalling without warning. Fuel system and stalling problems were found in 2012 through 2018 cars with 2-liter, 4-cylinder engines.

Customers have been told to keep fuel tanks at least half full because the gauges may not be working properly.

"While no recall is ever ideal and certainly never the goal, they are almost inevitable when you consider the complexity of these vehicles,” said Rebecca Lindland, executive analyst for Kelley Blue Book.

► Oct. 17:Feds investigate Ford pickup tailgates opening unexpectedly
► Oct. 16:Jeep Wrangler recall: Faulty weld could lead to crash without warning

“Regardless of the size, scope or product, it’s the manufacturer’s response to the recall and the level of inconvenience to the owner that is remembered," she said.

The most recent Ford recalls affect the following vehicles:

'18 Ford Expedition, Lincoln Navigator

About 38,000 vehicles with second-row center bench seats may be missing J-channel reinforcement brackets in the seat track assembly. A seat track missing one or both J-channel reinforcement brackets may not properly restrain the seat during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

Until the vehicle can be serviced for this concern, customers should move the seat back to its furthest position away from the front of the vehicle.

Almost 38,000 vehicles in North America have the problem, including almost 35,000 in the United States.

'18 Ford Explorer

About 160 vehicles with 2.3- or 3.5-liter gasoline turbocharged direct injection engines have a flawed fuel pressure sensor, which may result in a fuel leak, increasing the risk of a fire.

'19 Lincoln Nautilus

About 270 vehicles lack adaptive front steering to replace driver airbag modules with improperly formed injection-molded plastic covers that may separate during deployment, increasing risk of injury in a crash.

'19 Ford F-Series Super Duty 

Ford officials estimate that four 2019 Ford Super Duty vehicles in the U.S. have a transmission casing that may be missing material where the parking pawl engages the transmission.

This could cause a vehicle to move while in park, increasing the risk of injury.

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