Ford Focus Electric recalled in US over differential fault
Ford is recalling 949 Focus Electric cars in North America after identifying a risk of power loss caused by differential pinion shaft failure, with affected owners offered a new transmission assembly.
Ford has issued a recall for 949 Focus Electric vehicles in North America after discovering that the differential pinion shaft in the transmission could wear prematurely, potentially leading to a sudden loss of drive. The recall covers 865 cars in the United States and 66 in Canada, with affected owners offered a replacement transmission differential assembly at no cost.
The affected vehicles were built between August 2015 and April 2016 at Ford’s Michigan Assembly Plant, and between late February and late March 2016 at the Saarlouis plant in Germany. Ford said the defect could cause the pinion shaft to crack, resulting in a complete loss of motive power, which increases the risk of a crash. However, the company reported no accidents or injuries linked to the issue at the time of the recall announcement.
As a remedy, Ford dealers will install a revised transmission differential assembly. The replacement part features a friction-reducing coating applied to both the pinion shaft and the pinion gear bores, intended to address the wear problem and prevent recurrence. Owners will be notified by Ford and instructed to bring their vehicles in for the free repair.
Other Ford recalls issued at the same time
Alongside the Focus Electric action, Ford announced two further recalls for 2016 model year vehicles in the US and Canada. Around 7,000 F-150 pickup trucks and Explorer SUVs face inspection for a potentially faulty weld on the driver seat backrest, which could fail to restrain occupants in a crash. Dealers will check the seat frames and replace them if necessary.
A separate recall covers 608 Transit Connect vans built at the Valencia plant, due to a possible failure of the brake hydraulic control unit. This fault could affect electronic stability control and related safety systems. The recall includes 605 vans in the US and three in Canada.
Impact for Focus Electric owners
Owners of the affected Focus Electric models will be contacted directly by Ford. The company has specified that the repair will be carried out free of charge. As the recall involves a critical drivetrain component, owners are advised to arrange the repair promptly to avoid the risk of power loss during driving.
- Focus Electric (2015–2016, Michigan Assembly Plant, US build)
- Focus Electric (2016, Saarlouis Assembly Plant, Germany build)
