Jeff Nemeth, Ford's regional chief executive, said today that 1.6-litre Kugas made between December 2012 and February 2014 must be taken to a Ford dealer as soon as possible.
Ford held a joint news conference with South Africa's National Consumer Commission to discuss the recall of the Kugas. The US carmaker has attributed the problem to overheating engines.
A man died in a burning Kuga in South Africa in 2015, though Ford said it believes the incident was not related to the defect. An investigation is ongoing.