Ford India has started recalling many units of the Figo hatchback and the Classic sedan. The company said this was part of voluntary and pre-emptive field service action (FSA) started on July 23.
“With respect to the RTB (rear twist beam) issue, a total of 1,11,000 vehicles will be inspected in India. Ford Figo and Ford Classic units (previously known as Fiesta) sold from January 2008 to December 2010 will need to be inspected, but not necessarily need part replacements. In the case of the power steering hose (PAS hose), a total of 17,655 units of the Ford Figo and the Ford Classic produced and sold in India from September 2010 to February 2011 will be replaced,” read a company statement.
The statement was in response to a Business Standard query on whether RTBs in all Ford Figo and Classic models manufactured between January 2008 and December 2010 would be inspected, and replaced if found defective.
The faulty RTBs have cracks, resulting in an abnormal noise from the rear of the vehicle. If the noise is ignored and the vehicle continued to be used in this condition, it could lead to the RTB unit breaking and poor handling and brake performance.
In the case of PAS hoses, the issue is an oil leak may potentially develop in these, resulting in fumes being emitted from the area causing the leak. It is also possible the power steering fluid may come into contact with the vehicle’s exhaust components, leading to smoke and, in extreme cases, fire.
“Ford India will drive this FSA initiative through its authorised dealers. No injuries related to the RTB or PAS issues have been reported,” the company statement added.
The Figo and the Classic are among the company’s successful models. Recently, Anurag Mehrotra, vice-president (marketing), Ford India, had said, “Ford Classic truly stands for the self-driven. With its class leading fuel economy, smart features and intuitive design, it is a brand that personifies individuals.”
