It's Happening. NHTSA 23V380

[FloodingdowninTX]

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[Red Ryder]

I cannot read all of the letter you received, but I gather that your engine can fail and make loud noises and fire, but software is available to repair it.

 

[zacatac]

I got the same letter in the mail today. I happen to have an appointment early next week, so I'm going to see if I can have them add this on to the list of stuff to do as well.

I do find it odd that for the maverick it's just a software update but for the escape and Corsair they apparently need parts to fix the problem.

 

[FloodingdowninTX]

I cannot read all of the letter you received, but I gather that your engine can fail and make loud noises and fire, but software is available to repair it.

Anyone can read the recall notice number and NTSB in bold at the top if they have an interest in the details. My truck has had effective software upgrades before, she has been cool and quite so far, unlike the occasional extra navigator in the passenger seat.

 

[Superg0]

You Hybrid guys have tough skin

 

[4chEEsesmoothie]

Noice

 

[skyhawk]

Don't get your hopes up - I doubt the software update fixes the engine problem. Likely all it does is make sure you don't try to keep driving when the engine creates a new inspection port. Perhaps they trigger a shutdown based on a sudden oil pressure drop. The goal being to try to prevent a fire breaking out when someone keeps driving after it happens.

This is a safety recall to prevent fires. There is no software update that will fix an engine that is destined to fail because of bad assembly or bad components. The best they can do is try to keep someone from getting killed when it lets go. And that is all NHTSA cares about.

Here is the link if anyone wants to read the whole thing and not a cropped version
https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2023/RIONL-23V380-8214.pdf

The key bit is in red:

Right now, doing the correct thing when the engine blows is voluntary, and requires someone to notice, and recognize the problem for what it is, and know what to do when it happens. The software update probably eliminates any potential for the operator to misunderstand the issue and not shut down the engine.

On the cars that need parts to effect this "fix", they probably need parts to better detect the condition when it happens and relay that info to the PCM.

That is just my hunch.

 

[FloodingdowninTX]

Thanks for linking to the notice. I "cropped" my physical notice/VIN, because I'm not tech savvy. Not holding out on forum members. Your theory makes sense. I accept software that shuts off a fire before it hapoens.

 

[TRUCKHEF]

All it does is reprogram the Knock sensors to detect an engine failure from the improperly polished crankshafts or whatever it was they did wrong at the factory so the engine will shutdown BEFORE it explodes. It doesn’t actually fix anything because they can’t pinpoint which trucks got them and it would be too expensive to scattershot and fix all trucks that MAY have the issue. Just gotta hope that if you’re one of the lucky few, that it happens while you’re within in the powertrain warranty or you’re SOL.

 

[JokingJ]

There is no software update that will fix an engine that is destined to fail because of bad assembly or bad components. The best they can do is try to keep someone from getting killed when it lets go. And that is all NHTSA cares about.

Truer words... The real fix is to replace the long block on any/all potentially affected vehicles, but of course that essentially means FoMoCo footing the bill for pats and labor to have thousands of engines replaced, and obviously the C-suite bean counters are loathe to do so unless there's truly no other option (and they think it will be cheaper than settling some wrongful death and class action lawsuits).

As far as the NHTSA is concerned, not having people consumed in fireballs is in fact probably top of mind, but a glimmer of hope is their recent decision to question basically everything about Ford's drainage tube and software "fix" for the leaky fuel injectors in Escapes and Broncos that spray liquid and/or vaporized gasoline onto "hot engine surfaces" potentially causing (you guessed it) engine fires:

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/ford-recall-bronco-escape-suv-safety/

The gist is that the NHTSA is unsatisfied with the fix because it doesn't actually address the root cause of the issue whatsoever, which is theoretically the point of a recall... Go figure.

 

[Jman79]

Wonder if this will affect resale price on those model years when hybrid supply eases.

Hope for those of you who have it, they all fail safely within warranty.

 

[Red Ryder]

The recall is to protect Ford from liability of torching vehicle passengers (think Pinto).

Does this mean that they're not taking any action regarding the defective crankshafts and/or offering their customers any gesture regarding this issue other than fire mitigation?

You still have a ticking time-bomb, albeit with fire mitigation effort to protect FMC. The underlying issue that the engine can likely fail remains.

 

[FloodingdowninTX]

Every Pinto had gas tanks positioned ready to blow when rear-ended.
How many hybrids actually have the mystery defect that is in question here? Probably not a large number of the total pool. They each usually generate a thread here.
The hybrid drive train warranty is very long compared to standard. The brakes get less wear and tear. Mileage speaks for itself.
If the software patch reassures drivers that they will be safe in the rare event, that is good.
The resale for an inexpensive to own little hybrid pickup will be driven by the market. As will the value of cool little ecoboosts, imo.

 

[jeffrol48197]

There will be an extended warranty for the recall 23N06 which will be activated once the recall is done...no details about the warranty, as of yet, though...
NOTE: Customer Satisfaction program 23N06 (to be released May 2024) will be activated on 2020- 2022 Model Year Escape, 2021-2022 Model Year Corsair and 2022-2023 Model Year Maverick vehicles, which will provide extended warranty coverage for the engine.

 

[2cafn8d]

You Hybrid guys have tough skin

LOL! I'm coming from a 1.4T FWD Jeep Renegade as my last new car (traded it in in 2019). Not as bad as the bigger engine automatics, but still.

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