Ford India has recalled over 128,000 units of its popular Figo and Classic models to check for problems with a steering hose and rear suspension torsion beam. A similar recall of about 10,000 Figos exported from India will be undertaken in South Africa.
The affected models were manufactured between January 2008 and December 2010 (suspension) and from September 2010 until February 2011 (power steering hose).
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The automaker said the suspension issue is a potential crack in the rear twist beam (RTB) which first reveals itself in the form of an abnormal noise from the rear.
According to the Times of India, all Figo and Classic models produced between January 2008 and December 2010 will have the torsion beam inspected and replaced if necessary. All petrol Figo and Classic models manufactured from September 2010 until February 2011 will have the power steering hose replaced as a precautionary measure.
Ford said 111,000 Figo and Classic vehicles will be inspected in India for the twist beam problem and 17,655 will get a new steering hose.
The faulty power steering hose which could leak oil, catch fire and release noxious fumes.
Ford South Africa said it was recalling about 10,000 Figos there for the hydraulic hose check.
Ford has spent billions of dollars on car assembly and engine plants in India and last year announced plans to build a second $1b factory at Sanand in the northwestern state of Gujarat.
“It’s their most popular model, so these safety concerns are definitely going to have an impact on their reputation among Indian consumers,” Yaresh Kothari, a car analyst at Angel Broking in Mumbai, told the Times. “A recall like this is a big deal and it could affect future sales of the Figo.”
Last year, Ford sold about 93,000 cars in India, or 4.4% of the total market, ranking fifth after Maruti, Hyundai, Tata and Honda. That was more than double the 37,000 units Ford sold in 2010, with much of the growth coming from sales of the Figo, a small hatchback that competes with Honda’s Jazz and Skoda’s Fabia.
The Classic is a sedan version of a previous generation European Ford Fiesta, also made locally.
Other carmakers including Toyota, Tata Motors and Honda have recalled cars in India, but not on such a scale.
Gautam Sen, the editor of Auto India, told the Times that inevitably it would damage the confidence held by Indian consumers in Ford but added that it was too early to say how the public would respond.
“While some may be put off by thinking Ford makes poor-quality cars, others might view the fact that they have taken the initiative and been proactive is positive.”
Ford has insisted that nobody has been injured because of the fault.
Ford South Africa spokeswoman Rella Bernardes told Business Day replacement parts would arrive in the next two weeks.
She said the company expected that “very few cars” would have problems with both the power steering pump hose and the rear torsion beam.
