Ford ready for phase two of Kuga recall

FORD South Africa is inviting owners of the 4 556 Kugas affected by its safety recall to return their cars for Phase 2 of the modifications‚ which are designed to prevent them from catching fire.

And this time, the dealerships are said to be ready – and waiting.

In mid-January‚ after almost 50 of the SUVs had caught fire‚ the US-based car-maker hastily called a media conference to announce the recall of 1.6 models in South Africa to replace parts of the SUV’s coolant system‚ which was blamed to be the cause of the fires.

Phase 2 was about additional precautions, mainly the installation of a coolant-level warning sensor, Ford said.

Phase 1 only added to Ford’s public relations disaster, because it had caught most Ford dealerships offguard.

Most did not have the parts in stock‚ nor enough courtesy cars to loan Kuga owners during the fire-safe fix.

Ford SA managing director Casper Kruger‚ who took on the top job from April 1‚ said he was confident Phase 2 of the recall would be drama-free.

He said Ford SA had ensured that all dealerships had enough parts and loan vehicles on hand.

“That’s provided Kuga owners make an appointment to take their cars in. If they are going to just drop their cars off without warning‚ they may not have the best experience‚” he said.

The coolant level sensor and new hardware were produced by Ford’s global engineering team‚ and Kruger said South Africa was the first market to get them. “Changes will also be made to the routing of the coolant pipe, an electrical harness will be fitted – along with an extra coolant pipe – and the software configured to monitor the new sensor.”

Since the January recall, 88% of the 4 556 affected owners had taken their Kugas in for Phase 1‚ Kruger said. “Those who haven’t can now have both Phase 1 and 2 done at the same time.”

About 20% of the recalled Kugas – 900 vehicles – have since been traded in at Ford dealerships. However, many Kuga owners remain happy.

“A petrol attendant could not believe I was still driving a Kuga,” Leanne Jacobs of Virginia‚ Durban, said. Her car had been recalled and fixed. “Ironically‚ my husband drives another make of car – and his coolant system has failed twice!” she said.

Jacobs made an appointment yesterday to have Phase 2 done.

Meanwhile‚ the response to the firerelated recall of 15 600 Ford Figos and Ikons – announced by Ford SA a month ago – had been very slow‚ Kruger said.

Only 13% of the Figos and Ikons built between August 9 2004 and March 24 2012 – have had the high-pressure hose of their vehicles’ power-steering mechanism replaced.–

My husband drives another make of car – and his coolant system has failed twice