NHTSA Opens Investigations into Ford Recalls

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has initiated two new investigations into Ford following a significant $165 million civil penalty for failing to timely recall vehicles with defective rearview cameras. One investigation focuses on approximately 113,000 Ford Expeditions (2019-2020), where complaints about sudden seat belt tightening have been reported, prompting scrutiny of whether existing recalls adequately cover the issue. The second probe examines around 457,000 Ford Bronco Sport and Maverick vehicles, which were recalled due to sudden power loss linked to degraded 12-volt batteries, with reports indicating that some vehicles still experienced power loss post-repair. NHTSA is assessing the effectiveness of these recalls amid concerns about Ford's compliance with recall regulations and reporting accuracy. Ford has stated its commitment to cooperating fully with the investigations. This scrutiny reflects ongoing quality control challenges for Ford, America's second-largest automaker.