Check for Ford Recalls
This is a quick article on how to check for ford recalls on any year or model Ford car or truck. In the past, if you really wanted to find out if an open recall required attention on your vehicle you stopped by a dealership.
Then you beg a service adviser to plug the V.I.N or vehicle identification number into the Ford oasis system.
VIN numbers contain the unique 17 digit numbers assigned to all mass produced automobiles. Ford OASIS stands for, On-Line Automotive Service Information System. When you enter a specific vehicle ID this system provides a printable report about work performed under warranty.
They also report any open recalls and the date closed campaigns show completion. More importantly the report includes any recalls that are still open on that vehicle.
In the past, I worked at a Lincoln Mercury dealer as a service adviser for a short time and found this tool extremely helpful. I wrote an article recently on my other website about the Ford cruise control brake switch recall.
I’m reading that this is the largest recall in the company’s history. However, I found an alternative for owners to plug in the vehicle identification number themselves online. Now you can see if there’s any open recalls on your car or truck at your convenience.
This works for all Ford, Lincoln and Mercury publicly issued recall notices. So without further delay this is where you can check for Ford vehicle recalls. That text link will take you to Ford’s main website in the exact spot where there is an open box to install your 17 digit vehicle number. At this point I am unclear if this is as accurate as the OASIS system mentioned above. So I would consider this a quick check.
If the results return no open recalls I would still double check with the dealership when you have time. You can approach a service writer with your vehicle registration which should have the same number on it and he will plug it in for you and run the official Ford oasis report on the automobile. If this report says no open recalls, you can rest assure no open safety campaigns exist on the vehicle at this time. Sidebar: All three vehicles pictured on this page had open recalls on them.
Why Check for Ford Recalls
The article that I wrote on my other website which I’ve linked to from above discusses what is believed to be Ford’s largest recall in the history of their company. The recall covers a problem with the cruise control knock off switch mounted in the brake master cylinder. Ford reports the switch leaks brake fluid causing an electrical short.
This electrical short can start a fire that can engulf the engine compartment. What brought this situation to the attention of authorities? In more than one case the vehicle was parked in the house garage at the time. The fire spread to these homes and did severe damage. You can learn how to do the repair yourself using a Ford service and repair manual.
When do Car Makers Issue Recalls
In most cases a company will only issue a recall on safety related items. When I worked for General Motors there was several recalls for seat belt repairs. When I worked for ford I found several recalls that related to vehicle braking systems.
Therefore, checking for open recalls on your Ford vehicle should be considered an important thing to do. Often when a vehicle has been sold and repurchased several times the factory will have no way to contact the current owner.
If you buy this automobile private sale or from a used car lot you’ll have to check for ford recalls yourself. This is why new recalls appear on television stations or automotive news outlets. This media blitz effort pushes the word out that repairs need attention.
On a related note there are several recalls on Ford trucks. Read a page that discusses several of these recalls and what’s involved in the repairs. Also on that page is an interesting story about the 7.3 L super duty that is capable of putting on record-breaking amounts of mileage.
Not on the recall list, but still an issue, a technical service bulletin on Ford EGR code Problems. Fortunately, this repair remains straightforward to diagnose and the common failed parts inexpensive.
When the vehicle is around for 350,000 miles checking for ford recalls is even more important. For more articles from the mind of Master tech Mark this next link will take you back to the auto repair information blog home page.