Ford Motor Co. has issued a safety recall for two midsize sedans, the 2014-2018 Ford Fusion and Lincoln MKZ for potentially loose steering wheel bolts that could allow the wheel to detach from the column. The recall affects about 1.3 million vehicles.
Ford said the recall is the result of reports of two accidents and one injury. Ford says the steering wheel bolt may not maintain its torque and over time will loosen if not serviced and in extreme cases the wheel could detach and lead to a loss of steering control.
Affected vehicles include:
- 2014-17 Ford Fusion vehicles built at Flat Rock Assembly Plant, Aug. 6, 2013 to Feb. 29, 2016
- 2014-18 Ford Fusion vehicles built at Hermosillo Assembly Plant, July 25, 2013 to March 5, 2018
- 2014-18 Lincoln MKZ vehicles built at Hermosillo Assembly Plant, July 25, 2013 to March 5, 2018
The Ford reference number for this recall is 18S08. Dealers will replace the steering wheel bolt on the vehicle with a longer bolt with more robust thread engagement and larger nylon patch placed properly for proper torque retention at no cost to customers.
