Texas motorists may have heard that Ford Motor Co. is recalling 550,000 sedans and SUVs over fears the vehicles could roll away while parked. Around 504,000 of the affected vehicles are located in the U.S., and the rest are in Canada and Mexico.
According to Ford, the recall involves 2013-2014 Ford Escape SUVs and 2013-2016 Ford Fusion sedans made in Michigan, Kentucky, and Mexico. The vehicles have a transmission issue that could allow them to be in a different gear than drivers believe they are in. As a result, the vehicles could appear to be in park when they are actually still in gear, potentially allowing them to roll away. The problem occurs when a bushing that holds the transmission shifter cable becomes disconnected.
So far, Ford has not received any reports of accidents or injuries associated with the issue. However, the problem poses a serious safety risk to the public. Owners of the affected vehicles can get the faulty transmission bushing cable replaced for free at a Ford dealership. Until then, the Detroit-based automaker recommends that owners engage the parking brake each time the vehicle is parked.
Automakers can be held legally liable for any injuries that occur due to a defective vehicle. For example, if a vehicle with a faulty transmission rolls away and strikes someone, the injured victim could file a products liability lawsuit against the automaker, the parts manufacturer and others. This type of lawsuit is designed to help victims obtain financial compensation for damages, including medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering and mental anguish. An attorney could assess a victim's case and help him or her properly prepare a claim for court.
Source: CNET, "Ford recalls 550,000 Escape, Fusion vehicles over rollaway concerns", Andrew Krok, July 18, 2018
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