Ford has announced a major vehicle recall due to issues with diesel particulate filters (DPF) that cause emissions to exceed legal limits. The recall affects approximately 768,927 vehicles worldwide, including 164,168 in Germany, according to the German Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA), as reported by “Auto Motor und Sport.”
Affected Models
The recall covers a wide range of Ford models with diesel engines manufactured between 2014 and 2020. These include the B-Max, C-Max, EcoSport, Fiesta, Focus, Galaxy, Grand C-Max, Kuga, Mondeo, Ranger, S-Max, Tourneo Connect, Transit Connect, and Transit Courier.
Cause of the Issue
Investigations revealed that the number of emitted particles increased over the vehicles’ lifetimes, causing some cars to fail emissions tests. Initially, the German automobile club ADAC suspected a flaw in the filter regeneration process. However, Ford later clarified that the root cause was hairline cracks in the diesel particulate filters.
Repair Process
To address the issue, affected vehicles will undergo recalibration of the DPF regeneration system at authorized service centers. If inspections reveal damaged filters, they will be replaced. Vehicle owners will receive notifications from the KBA requesting them to bring their cars to a Ford service center. The recall process will begin with the Ford Kuga model.
Support for Vehicle Owners
Ford aims to contact all affected vehicle owners by the end of 2024. Those who have already paid for repairs related to DPF issues may be eligible for reimbursement through a goodwill program. Additionally, Ford has extended its warranty to ten years or 160,000 kilometers for affected vehicles.
The recall underscores the importance of maintaining emissions compliance and ensuring that environmental standards are met, reaffirming Ford’s commitment to its customers and regulatory obligations.
