U.S. Reviews Ford Recall of Overheating Engines

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says it is reviewing the effectiveness of a Ford Motor Co. recall that was prompted by 29 engine fires.

Ford’s campaign, which was announced a week ago, involves 230,800 vehicles in North America that are equipped with a 1.6-liter GTDI 4-cylinder engine.

The company proposes to add sensors and a warning lamp so owners can tell when the coolant level is low. Without sufficient coolant, the engine would overheat and eventually lead to an oil leak that could catch fire.

Critics point out that Ford’s solution doesn’t fix the cause of the problem. On the other hand, it does tell owners when to take steps to avoid the likelihood of a fire. NHTSA’s focus is on safety, so its analysis will weigh whether the sensor will resolve the fire threat.

The recall in North America covers 2013-2014 model Fusion midsize sedans, 2013-2015 model Transit Connect small vans, 2014 model Escape SUVs and 2014-2015 Fiesta ST small cars. Ford also plans a similar callback in Europe for 2010-2015 model Focus small car and C-Max hybrid small MPV and 2013-2015 model Transit Connect vans.