Ford Recalls C

A faulty bushing that connects the transmission to the shifter cable is once again to blame

Ford is recalling almost 3 million cars and SUVs, including 2013 through 2019 Escape SUVs, 2013 through 2018 C-Max hybrids, 2013 through 2016 Fusion sedans, 2013 through 2021 Transit Connect vans, and 2015 through 2018 Edge SUVs because they may roll away even if they appear to be in Park.

The problem is due to a faulty bushing that attaches the shifter cable to the transmission. If this bushing fails, the transmission may not be in Park even if the driver moves the shifter to the Park position. The vehicle will not sound any warnings or alerts, and the vehicle could roll away if the driver does not apply the parking brake as well.

Ford has issued four prior recalls—for the Ford Escape and Fusion in 2018, for the Fusion in 2019, for the Transit Connect in 2021, and for the Escape earlier this year—for vehicles that use the same shift bushing as the vehicles recalled today. In total, they encompass nearly a million vehicles.

In documents provided to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Ford says it is aware of four injuries, six reports of property damage, 233 customer complaints, and 1,630 warranty claims related to this recall.

Vehicles Recalled• Ford Escape SUVs manufactured between Oct. 5, 2011 and Aug. 2, 2019• Ford C-Max hybrids manufactured between Jan. 19, 2012 and April 26, 2018• Ford Fusion sedans manufactured between Feb. 3, 2012 and April 4, 2016• Ford Transit Connect vans manufactured between June 13, 2013 and July 30, 2021• Ford Edge SUVs manufactured between June 25, 2014 and Sept. 4, 2018

The problem: A faulty transmission bushing manufactured by automotive supplier Hi-Lex may fail and prevent the transmission from shifting into Park even though the vehicle’s shifter says it is in Park. Ford has not been able to determine why this bushing fails, but tells NHTSA it may be due to exposure to humidity and heat. In total, nearly 4 million vehicles that use this transmission bushing have been recalled since 2018.

The fix: Ford dealerships will replace the shift bushing and add a protective cap, free of charge.

How to contact the manufacturer: Ford will mail notifications to owners of affected vehicles starting on June 27, 2022. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 866-436-7332.

NHTSA campaign number: 22V413. Ford’s own number for this recall is 22S43.

Check to see whether your vehicle has an open recall: NHTSA’s website will tell you whether your vehicle has any open recalls that need to be addressed.

If you plug your car’s 17-digit vehicle identification number (VIN) into NHTSA’s website and a recall doesn’t appear, it means your vehicle doesn’t currently have any open recalls. Because automakers issue recalls often, and for many older vehicles, we recommend checking back regularly to see whether your vehicle has had a recall issued.

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