Ford recalls 2 million pickup trucks; seat belts can cause fires

[Omaha Steve]

Source: Omaha World Herald-AP

By Tom Krisher

DETROIT (AP) — Under pressure from U.S. safety regulators, Ford is recalling about 2 million F-150 pickup trucks in North America because the seat belts can spark and cause fires.

The recall, which covers trucks from the 2015 through 2018 model years, comes about one month after the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration began investigating fires in the pickups, which are the top-selling vehicles in the United States.

Ford said Thursday that it has 23 reports of smoke or fire in U.S. and Canadian trucks, but it's not aware of any injuries. NHTSA began investigating in early August after getting five fire reports, including three reports that trucks were destroyed.

According to Ford, seat belt pretensioners can generate excessive sparks when they tighten before a crash. That can ignite gases inside a support pillar between the front and rear seats, causing insulation and carpet to catch fire. The Regular Cab and SuperCrew Cab trucks were built between March 12, 2014 and Aug. 23, 2018, according to documents posted Thursday by NHTSA.

Read more: https://www.omaha.com/news/trending/ford-recalls-million-pickup-trucks-seat-belts-can-cause-fires/article_d85284d9-51d4-53cf-8a0f-4bec9ce28667.html

[bucolic_frolic]

1. Wonder if anyone makes a small fire extinguisher for vehicle crashes

[AndJusticeForSome]

2. Um

"That can ignite gases inside a support pillar between the front and rear seats"

Any speculation on which gases might concentrate in that area?

(I'm truly sorry, but couldn't resist!)

[bucolic_frolic]

3. lol

I've never found a flatulence port in a passenger vehicle. They must be talking about off-gassing of sound-deadening foam such as polyurethane??

[AndJusticeForSome]

6. Hah! So says you!

But have you considered maybe the use of this material?

https://m.

[Wellstone ruled]

4. Well,you take the low bid and this is what happens.

Who the hell is running the Q.C. department.

[Fred Sanders]

5. Now if only Nike were to take over production of these pickups...featuring Colin driving one.

Free lighter with every purchase, Deplorables! Maybe not even need one!

[sinkingfeeling]

8. +100

[sandensea]

7. It's the Ford Pinto all over again.

[LiberalLovinLug]

9. Back in my day...we didn't have to strap on those dangerious exploding death belts

[bucolic_frolic]

10. Repair will cost big money

at say $150 a piece - that's parts, paying dealers, notifications, etc - a reasonable guesstimate really, that's $300,000,000. And if my memory of past recalls serves me well, $200 each is not out of the ball park as an estimate.

[truthisfreedom]

11. One weird story! Doesn't affect my 2014 Raptor!

[CountAllVotes]

12. Bwahahahaa!

Gee a puke known around here bought one of these.

He was saying it was the best thing ever and that the only thing missing is a cocktail waitress.