Ford have long been the biggest name in the American automotive industry. But recalls happen to the best of them and Ford is no different. Their latest recall has to do with their airbags. Ford became one of the world’s major manufacturers of the century and Henry Ford became one of the most powerful men in the world as a result. He was credited with designing the first moving assembly line for car manufacturing which no doubt was a contributing factor in the company’s success. How will the latest recall effect their bottom line?
What is Ford’s history as far as recalls? How many have they had to issue?
Ford is the namesake of the automotive industry in America. Its basically part of the American image and culture at this point. From their early days of the Model T the company has been the epitome of the hardworking, tough American spirit that has been part of their marketing image for a while now. And it works. The company has experienced worldwide success as a result.
They have long been at the forefront of American engineering and innovation that we can see on the roads of the world. For generations they have somehow managed to remain relevant and keep producing stunning cars that are good value for money. From the Cortina to the Fiesta, one thing that is for certain, Ford know how to make a car.
And we do mean any car. Their large vehicles like the Transit van and the F150 have become market leaders and experienced sales that their competition could only dream of. And that is where the latest recall has been. The legendary F150 at one point was the best selling vehicle in the world, with one being bought globally every few seconds.
What exactly is wrong with the F150 and how to check the models affected.
While recalls are a regular occurrence in the automotive industry, Ford has built their reputation on the fact that their cars and trucks in particular are tough and well built. So any recall that they are forced into is a serious matter indeed. When they do issue a recall, they tend to have a solution already for the public. That seems to be the Ford way. Regardless, prevention is always better than a cure.
In this case however, the effect on the customer is minimal and more down to the safety regulations in a country all about health and safety(Scoffs). The recall boils down to the airbag warning label that is supposed to be on the passenger dashboard of the F150. The airbag itself is not defective at all, the trucks affected merely do not have the warning label about the danger of the airbag being deployed.
The recall is due to the regulation in the US for airbag warnings. The affected cars are limited to the F150 trucks. Ford have stated that they will send the missing warning to all affected customers via mail at no cost to the customers. And then the customer will need to stick the warning label onto the dash themselves, which should be interesting to say the least.
How bad will the recall effect the legendary Detroit manufacturer?
While their major competitors in the US market have their own new plans, Ford has become an expert at analyzing what the market needs and manufacturing cars that fit the needs of their customers. This new recall does not seem to be that serious and we do not expect a whole lot of problems. Its more down to the bureaucratic regulations that require American cars and trucks to warn the occupants about any perceivable danger in the car, even if that danger comes from a device that could potentially save their lives.
For more information about this recall, you can check the 25V-271 report from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association.
