Ford Recalls Pickups, SUVs for Tailgate and Fuel Issues

Ford Motor Company is issuing two safety recalls in North America.

Safety recall for select 2017-19 Ford F-250, F-350 and F-450 Super Duty vehicles for unintended tailgate opening

Ford is issuing a safety recall for select 2017-19 Ford F-250, F-350 and F-450 Super Duty vehicles for unintended tailgate opening. In affected vehicles with an electric tailgate latch-release switch mounted in the tailgate handle, water entering the electrical wiring system may cause a short circuit, resulting in unintended switch activation and release of the tailgate latches. This could cause the tailgate to open unintentionally, whether the vehicle is in motion or stationary. This condition may result in the loss of unrestrained cargo, increasing the risk of a crash. Vehicles with a mechanical tailgate release handle are not affected.

Ford is not aware of any reports of accident or injury related to this condition.

This action affects 231,664 vehicles in the U.S. and federal territories and 29,953 in Canada.

Affected vehicles were built at Kentucky Truck Plant from Oct. 8, 2015, to Nov. 3, 2019.

Dealers will modify the tailgate frame wiring harnesses by adding jumper pigtails to isolate the tailgate release control circuits and install a new tailgate handle release switch. The Ford reference number for this recall is 19S48.

Safety recall for select 2020 Ford Explorer and 2020 Lincoln Aviator vehicles with 3.0-liter engines

Ford is issuing a safety recall for select 2020 Ford Explorer and 2020 Lincoln Aviator vehicles. In some affected vehicles, the convolute protective sleeve on the liquid fuel line is not long enough, which may allow for potential hard contact with the convolute-protected vapor fuel line. Over time, with vibration and engine roll, hard contact between the two fuel lines could cause the convolute on the vapor fuel line to rub through the plastic liquid fuel line. A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.

Ford is not aware of any reports of accident, injury or fire related to this condition.

This action affects 3,858 vehicles in the U.S. and federal territories, 35 in Canada, and seven in Mexico.

Affected vehicles were built at Chicago Assembly Plant:

  •  Ford Explorer vehicles built Jan. 18-July 17, 2019
  • Lincoln Aviator vehicles built Jan. 15-July 17, 2019

Dealers will inspect vehicles for a full-length yellow-colored protective convolute on the liquid fuel line. If the convolute does not cover the full length of the liquid fuel line, dealers will remove the existing convolute, replace it with one that has the correct length and secure it with a tie strap. The Ford reference number for this recall is 19S49.

Aaron Turpen
An automotive enthusiast for most of his adult life, Aaron has worked in and around the industry in many ways. He is an accredited member of the Rocky Mountain Automotive Press (RMAP), the Midwest Automotive Media Association (MAMA), the Texas Auto Writers Association (TAWA), and freelances as a writer and journalist around the Web and in print. You can find his portfolio at AaronOnAutos.com.