Fire risk affects almost 60,000 Ford Rangers

About 70,000 current-model Ford Ranger and Mazda BT-50 utes have been recalled due to a fire risk if they are driven over long grass.

The safety recall affects 59,254 Rangers and about 17,000 BT-50s produced in the same Thai factory since July 2016.

Both companies have issued an urgent warning to owners not to drive over long grass during the summer break due to the possibility that dry vegetation can lodge beneath the diesel particulate filter (DPF) and ignite.

It’s been reported that 24 vehicles have caught fire or began to “smoulder” as a result, including 15 BT-50 fires and nine Ranger cases, two of which led to the vehicles being written off.

Ford and Mazda say a remedy for the problem, which was diagnosed after a series of vehicle fires in mid-2017, will not be available until next year.

In the meantime, both companies have issued a bulletin warning owners of the danger, and inviting them to take their vehicle to a Ford or Mazda dealer to have them inspected.

Alternatively, owners can check the area around the DPF (located “adjacent to the exhaust system and transmission cross member”) for debris themselves.

“Ford Australia is taking precautions to protect its customers by initiating a Safety Recall for approximately 59,000 Ford Ranger PXII vehicles built after July 2016,” said Ford in a statement.

“The recall is in relation to a risk of fire due to grass or vegetation accumulation near the DPF (diesel particulate filter) that produces very high temperatures during regeneration mode.

“The DPF regeneration can radiate a considerable amount of heat which could create a fire risk if sufficient grass or vegetation accumulates in this area. Ford is contacting customers now to alert them of the risk and provide instructions on how to inspect their vehicle.

“Customers are reminded to refer to the warnings in the Owner Manual especially relating to starting and stopping the engine, fuel and refueling.

“While the likelihood of this situation arising is low, Ford is taking precautionary action to help prevent this situation from occurring as customer safety is the company’s top priority. Customers will be contacted again as parts are available to address this concern.”

You can check the list of affected Ranger vehicle identification numbers here.

The latest Ranger recall follows a recall to fix gearshift cables in manual versions in November and two recalls in September — one to fix side airbags, the other to repair a potentially faulty rear seatback latch.

Ford says the Everest SUV, which shares its engine and frontal structure with the Ranger and is made in the same Thai factory, is not affected by this week’s recall.

Meantime, Mitsubishi had added 20,187 examples of MY2013-2017 NW and NX-series Parejo models to the list of vehicles affected by the ongoing Takata airbag debacle.

As with other Takata recalls, the airbag inflator may rupture when deployed, spraying metal fragments into the cabin. This one affect ‘beta’ airbags, in this case fitted on the passenger side.

Also in the past week, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles Australia (FCAA) has issued a recall notice for 1928 examples of the 2012-13 (KK) Cherokee.

The issue involves active head restraints that may deploy correctly in a rear-end collision due to potential failure of the occupant restraint controller, increasing the risk of injury to the front seat occupants.

FCA Australia says it will notify owners by sending a courtesy letter, followed by a follow-up letter when replacement parts become available.

Finally, SAIC Motor Australia has recalled 57 examples of the 2016 MG 6 Plus small car because the rear centre seat position is not fitted with a child restraint anchorage as required by Australian Design Rule 34/02.

“Without appropriate Child Restraint Anchorage, the top tether of a child restraint cannot be attached, which may increase the risk of injury to an occupant in an accident,” said SAIC.

“Owners of affected vehicles will be contacted directly by their MG dealer to arrange a complete replacement of the rear passenger seat backrest (60% portion) fitted with a middle top-tether child restraint anchorage point.”

Affected owners can call the MG Australia helpline on 1800 MG CARS (1800 642 277).