More Ford Motor Co. Recall Woes
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| Only 25 all-new Aviators have been recalled, but it happened in its first month - ouch! That doesn't help Ford's tarnished image at all. |
It's just not fair. Not even a month in showrooms, Ford Motor has had to recall its Lincoln Aviator luxury SUV to fix a faulty transmission part. While the action only affects a handful of vehicles the fact that it happened doesn't help the company to increase confidence in its brand, recently beleaguered with a deluge of recalls effecting many of its models, especially the Ford Focus.
The NHTSA said the Aviator recall involved a transmission shift cable that could come loose from its bracket, causing the shifter to display the incorrect gear. Ford spokesman Glenn Ray stated on Tuesday that the company was aware of only one Aviator with the problem that was delivered to a customer - the rest still unsold.
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| While the Ford Focus is one of the best small cars to drive, its recall record is hardly helping sales. |
To remedy its recall woes after the newly introduced Ford Escape SUV and Ford Focus experienced recalls almost immediately after going on sale in 2001, Ford instituted a "batch-and-hold" system when all new vehicles are launched. The company runs extended tests on new vehicles to ensure no problems arise before its dealers and customers receive them.
What sounds like a good idea is obviously not fail safe. Nevertheless, all Aviators have now been repaired.