The Northern New Jersey car accident lawyers at Breslin and Breslin are reporting that the Ford Motor Company is recalling the 2014 Escape for the ninth time.
The Detroit News reports that Ford issued a recall of 203,445 model year 2014 to 2015 Transit Connect and Escape vehicles because of an issue with the instrument panel.
According to Ford, when starting the vehicle, the instrument cluster, warning chimes, messages and warning lights may not work. If the displays don’t work as intended, it could increase the risk of a crash.
The company says it was unaware of any injuries or crashes related to the issue.
Today’s recall marks the ninth for the 2014 Escape, which has previously been recalled for fuel pump and airbag issues, as well as a problem that could lead doors to open while driving.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the last recall [PDF] for the car came in January over an issue that could lead the fuel pump to stall.
Before that, the car was recalled [PDF] because the vehicle’s restraint control module could experience a short-circuit that could lead to airbags not deploying as intended in the event of a crash.
In May 2014, the manufacturer called back [PDF] the car because an assembly misalignment between the exterior door handle and the door outer panel means some vehicle’s doors may be difficult to close or may open while driving.
While nine recalls certainly isn’t good for the Ford Escape, it isn’t quite as bad as the 2013 Escape, which has been recalled 12 times.
According to the NHTSA there were five recalls of the vehicle in 2014 alone.
Manufacturing defects are one of the leading causes of serious car accidents in New Jersey and the United States. If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident resulting from a design or manufacturing defect, you may be entitled to compensation. Damages for such claims include, but are not limited to, compensation for medical bills, lost wages and pain and suffering. To find out if you are eligible for legal recourse contact our trusted New Jersey car accident lawyers today.
