Escape (Ford)

On April 17, Ford announced it is recalling 456,565 Bronco Sport and Maverick vehicles due to a battery detection issue that can result in loss of drive power, increasing crash risks.

According to documents published by the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the body and power train control modules for these cars may fail to detect changes in battery charge. 

When undetected, a low battery charge can cause an unexpected loss of drive power — including sudden stalling or inability to restart — and the use of other electric capabilities like hazard lights.

The recall covers about 402,978 model year 2021-2024 Bronco Sports produced between February 2020 and March 2024, as well as 53,587 model year 2022-2023 Mavericks manufactured from February 2021 to October 2022.

To remedy the issue, dealers will recalibrate the impacted vehicles' body and power train control modules at no cost, with owner notification letters to be mailed on May 13.

Ford announced a separate recall of nearly 43,000 select Bronco Sport and Escape SUVs one week ago because gasoline can leak from the fuel injectors onto hot engine surfaces, increasing the risk of fires, but the recall remedy did not include repairing the fuel leaks, prompting a federal investigation.

(Detroit News article on April 17, 2024) (U.S. NHTSA document on April 12, 2024)

On March 7 it was announced that Ford Colombia sales increased 57.1% to 759 units during February 2024 compared to the same period of last year.

The models that increased their sales during the month were Ford Bronco Sport with a 538.4% increase to 83 units; Ford Escape with 431.9% to 383 units and Ford Expedition with 20% to 6 units.

Ford Edge sales decreased 33.3% percent to 12 units; Ford F-Series sales decreased 25% to 18 units; Ford Ranger sales decreased 31.6% to 197 units while the Ford Explorer sales were flat at 60 units and the Ford F-150 Lightning sold 0 units.

Thanks to this results of February, Ford Colombia is one of the 10 most sold brands in the country.

(Multiple sources on March 7, 2024)

Ford Motor Co. is delaying planned three-row electric vehicles similar in size to the Explorer and Lincoln Aviator as it focuses on smaller, more affordable EVs, according to people familiar with recent company plans.

The three-row EVs, planned to be built in Canada at Ford's future Oakville Electric Vehicle Complex, were expected to go on sale in early 2025, but Ford will instead launch an affordable EV on a small vehicle platform at the company's Louisville Assembly Plant as early as late 2026, one of the people said.

The UAW and Ford agreed as part of its 2023 labor contract to add a new EV product to Louisville before the deal expires in 2028, although they did not specify timing.

Ford is reportedly planning three models on the new smaller platform: a small SUV due to launch in late 2026 at around USD 25,000, a pickup and, potentially, a ride-hailing vehicle. 

While any kind of delay for the three-row EVs is unknown, Ford CEO Jim Farley has previously said that smaller, cheaper EVs are what is needed to compete in the U.S. EV market.

"What the customer has now said to us is, if you have [an EV] larger than Escape, it better be really functional or a work vehicle," Farley recently said. "But if you do the economics for a vehicle, let's say the Escape or smaller, it's totally different, it completely works.

(multiple sources on March 19, 2024)