Chicago Car Accident Lawyers Blog
These days, it may seem like a new automobile recall is being announced every week, and with good reason: over the last few years, more recalls have been issued than at any time in the past. Many motorists have found that the cars they own have been recalled multiple times for unrelated issues that range from the minor to the severe, leaving them wondering just how safe any car on the road may be.
Now, in two new recalls, Ford has announced that approximately 283,000 vehicles will need to be serviced to be safe.
The first recall affects roughly 81,000 Ford Explorer SUVs and Police Interceptor models in North America manufactured between 2014 and 2015. These vehicles have a problem with the rear suspension that could lead to fracturing resulting from poor welds. The other recall focuses on 202,000 cars, pickup trucks, and SUVs with a faulty transmission. These vehicles include 2011 Ford F-150 pickup trucks, 2012 Ford F-150 pickup trucks, 2012 Ford Expeditions, 2012 Ford Mustangs, and 2012 Lincoln Navigators. Officials state that a flaw in the transmission can cause the unit to downshift unintentionally, potentially leading to car accidents or other collisions.
Registered owners of the affected vehicles will be contacted by mail to inform them of the need for the repairs, and all repairs will be performed without cost to consumers.
In the meantime, if you have concerns about the safety of your vehicle and it is affected by one of the foregoing recalls, you are being encouraged to contact your local dealership to discuss your specific vehicle and whether it is safe for you to operate at this time.
Far too often, manufacturers fail to adequately test their products and review the processes used in assembling vehicles, leading to latent issues that can become safety hazards to others. The most problematic issues stem from the fact that the owners of a risky car are far from the only ones who may be harmed by that vehicle. Rather, owners, their passengers, pedestrians, bicyclists, motorcyclists, other drivers, and even truckers may be harmed if the car with a defect is involved in a crash or otherwise has an incident on an open road.
To be sold in America, cars, trucks, and vans must comply with certain minimum standards and laws so that they are safe. But often, undiscovered defects or faulty pieces of equipment are used in these vehicles which make their way onto public roadways and pose a threat to drivers and passengers alike. In the event that a faulty or defective vehicle causes a crash in Chicago or elsewhere in the state of Illinois, victims should know that they may be entitled to receive financial compensation for their damages including any medical expenses they incurred.
Any time a collision happens and injuries result, it is the right of those who are hurt to work with a personal injury attorney of their choosing so that their rights can be protected and there interests represented both in and out of a court of law.
Prior Blog Entry:
Reducing Chicago Pedestrian Accident by Eliminating Distractions, Chicago Car Accident Lawyers Blog, published April 18, 2016.
Resource:
Recalls & Defects, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, accessed on April 29, 2016.