Ford Kuga in flames, Ikon, Figo models also recalled
Another Ford Kuga has gone up in flames, just weeks after Ford announced the “phase two” recall for the vehicles.
In January this year, Ford recalled more than 4 500 Kuga 1.6-litre Ecoboost models, produced from December 2012 to February 2014. This followed reports of several of the vehicles bursting into flames. In total, more than 50 of the vehicles have been affected by sudden fires.
The latest fire happened on Monday, when Ekurhuleni Disaster and Emergency Management Services (Dems) swiftly responded to a call about a vehicle on fire.
Dems spokesperson William Ntladi said: “They found the vehicle was engulfed in flames and the driver was standing helplessly on the side of the road watching it burn. The fire was extinguished in no time, though the damage had already occurred. As per information received, the driver smelled something burning while he was driving and then saw flames coming from the engine compartment, in which it is believed the fire started.”
A statement from Ford about the latest incident said it was launching an investigation and had loaned the Kuga owner a courtesy vehicle,
“We are however still trying to gain access to the vehicle to find out what has happened.”
Last month‚ Ford SA an- nounced another fire-risk-related recall – this time on its entry-level Figo and Ikon models.
It is understood thousands of owners of Figos and Ikons‚ built in India between August 2004 and March 2012 and sold here‚ received e-mails asking them to “immediately” contact a Ford dealership to replace their vehicle’s power-steering high-pressure hose.
Ford said there would be no charge for the replacement hose and labour costs.
Ford has also invited Kuga owners whose vehicles were part of the recall announced in January to return their cars to dealerships for phase two of the recall, the installation of a sensor to alert the driver when the coolant level drops. – Caxton News Service