THE past few weeks have seen many stories all over the news about Ford Kuga SUVs catching fire throughout South Africa.
The fires resulted in a total of 4 556 Ford Kuga 1,6-litre units, built between December 2012 and February 2014, being recalled by the manufacturer.
Jeff Nemeth, president and CEO of Ford SA, said: “We know the incidents of engine fires in Ford Kuga 1.6-litre vehicles in South Africa have created concerns for Kuga owners and the general public.
“We understand and appreciate the feelings of our customers, and we want to assure them that their safety is our priority.”
What’s the cause of the recall?
Affected models are “potentially susceptible to overheating due to a lack of coolant circulation”, which could cause an engine to overheat and crack the cylinder head.
Ford SA’s steps to remedy the situation
- Ford increased the capacity of its call centre, adding a dedicated Kuga support team, with longer hours and weekend support.
- Since the launch of the recall check, Ford has contacted over 3 800 customers with emails and posted letters.
- Parts are being flown in to deal with the problem. All outstanding parts should arrive in South Africa by the middle of this month.
- Courtesy vehicles are being provided to keep customers mobile while their cars are being repaired.
- They have expanded their current partnership with the AA to boost Ford Roadside Assistance for all Kuga 1,6 vehicles.
- They introduced support programmes to dealers to help fix their customers’ Kugas.
- Dealers will provide each Kuga 1,6 customer a letter confirming that the necessary repair has been made. – WHEELS24
