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Ford issues recalls for Fiesta, Fusion, E-Series, and Lincoln MKZ

Ford has issued two new safety recalls for North America. The first covers certain 2014-15 Ford Fiestas, 2014-16 Ford Fusions, and 2014-16 Lincoln MKZs with doors that might not close properly. The second pertains to 2021 Ford E-Series stripped chassis and cutaway vehicles with a wiring harness that might chaffe and expose important wiring.    Ford is recalling 268,343 Fiesta hatchbacks, Fusion sedans, and MKZ sedans across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, with 248,912 of the affected vehicles located in the U.S. The recall says the "latch pawl spring-tab design" could crack in locations where the temperature gets too hot. If the tab breaks, the door might not shut. Or, worse, the door will shut temporarily and reopen once the vehicle is in motion. As a fix, Ford dealers will remove and replace the side door latches. In a separate recall, Ford is targeting 3,631 2021 E-Series stripped chassis and cutaway vehicles. These vehicles could have frame-mounted wiring harnesses that could deteriorate and break due to rubbing on the frame. If the chaffing wears down the harness, wiring for the fuel, trailer tow, and antilock braking systems could be exposed and damaged. In the worst-case scenario, the damage to the fuel pump wiring could cause the pump to stop working, which could stall the vehicle.  Those with affected E-Series vehicles should bring them in to dealerships for inspection. If there is no damage, technicians will add anti-abrasion tape over the area and "ensure clearance to surrounding components." If the harness is damaged, the wiring will be spliced and fixed, then anti-abrasion tape will be added. Ford also issued a third recall, but it is specifically for the Canadian market. On 54,292 examples of 2006-10 Ford Fusions, 2006-10 Mercury Milans, and 2006-10 Lincoln MKZs, a valve inside the hydraulic control unit might stick open. According to Ford, this could result in a longer brake pedal travel, which could possibly create dangerous situations if the driver is unaware. Dealerships will inspect the control units and replace those that are defective. Related Video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. 2021 Ford Bronco and Bronco Sport Leaks!!

There's an impending shortage of new trucks in America's heartland

URBANDALE, Iowa — Jerry Bill is worried the novel coronavirus could hurt business at the Des Moines auto dealership he runs, but not because of a shortage of buyers for the big Ram pickups on his lot. "Our biggest issue will be if we don't get more inventory," said Bill, general sales manager of Stew Hansen Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram, which sells around 2,700 new vehicles a year in Urbandale, a suburb of Iowa's capital Des Moines. After a drop in sales in April when consumers stayed home, Bill expects pickup truck sales to end May similar to where they were a year earlier. And if demand remains strong, Bill said he will run out of popular models in June. Fiat Chrysler began slowly restarting Ram truck assembly lines on Monday after a two-month shutdown. The U.S. economy contracted in the first quarter at its sharpest pace since the Great Recession of 2007-2009 because of lockdown measures aimed at slowing the spread of the coronavirus. Economists warn the second quarter will be much worse. Still, far from the lockdowns of states like New York, Michigan or Ohio, dealerships like Stew Hansen have provided FCA and Detroit rivals General Motors and Ford a rare bright spot: strong sales of pickup trucks in America's heartland. Overall U.S. sales of cars and light trucks crashed to the weakest pace in 50 years last month. But sales of big Detroit brand pickups, particularly in southern and western states less affected by the outbreak, significantly outperformed the market, industry executives and analysts said. Pickup trucks are one of the most profitable automotive segments in the world. They account for a huge portion of the Detroit automakers' profits and formed a huge lure for Peugeot, which expects to merge with FCA by early 2021. The pressure is now on to boost pickup truck production and send vehicles to dealers in parts of the country with dwindling supplies. That is particularly true for GM, which is running short of certain truck models after losing 40 days of production to a strike last fall. "If you don't have what someone wants, they can choose to go to another brand," said Cox Automotive analyst Michelle Krebs. 'Easiest swap ever' Detroit automakers in March rolled out large discounts — such as interest-free loans for seven years — to keep vehicles rolling off dealer lots.

Honda poised for growth, Detroit to hold steady, Car Wars study says

The automotive industry is expected to keep booming in the US over the next several years, but the train might start running out of steam in the long term, according to 2015's Car Wars report from Bank of America Merrill Lynch analyst John Murphy. The forecast focuses on changes between the 2016 and 2019 model years, and the latest trends appear similar in some cases to the past predictions. Sales are expected to keep growing and reach a peak of 20 million in 2018, according to the Detroit Free Press. The expansion is projected to come from a quick pace of vehicle launches, with an average of 48 introductions a year – 26 percent more than in 1996. Crossovers are expected to make up a third of these, maintaining their strong popularity. However, Murphy predicts a decline, as well. By 2025, total sales could fall to around 15 million units. As of May 2015, the seasonally adjusted annual rate for this year stands at 17.71 million. Like last year, Honda is predicted to be a big winner in the future thanks to products like the next-gen Civic. "Honda should be the biggest market share gainer," Murphy said when presenting the report, according to Free Press. Meanwhile, in a situation similar to Car Wars from 2012, a lack of many new vehicles is expected to cause a drop for Hyundai, Kia, and Nissan. Based on this forecast, Ford, General Motors, and FCA US will all generally maintain market share for the coming years. The report does make some future product predictions, though. The next Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra might come in 2019, which is earlier than expected. Also, Lincoln could get a Mustang-based coupe for 2017, a compact sedan for 2018 and an Explorer-based model in 2019, according to the Free Press. Related Video: News Source: The Detroit Free PressImage Credit: Nam Y. Huh / AP Photo Earnings/Financials Chrysler Fiat Ford GM Honda Lincoln Car Buying fca us