16S45 - Frame Crossmember Reinforcement Bracket Inspection

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NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V945
Manufacturer Ford Motor Company
Components FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
Potential Number of Units Affected 7,105

Reinforcement Bracket Missing from Fuel Tank

A fuel tank strap that separates and allows the fuel tank to contact the ground may cause a fuel leak, increasing the risk of a fire.

Summary

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2017 Ford F-250 and F-350 Super Duty trucks manufactured August 10, 2016, to September 17, 2016.

The frame reinforcement bracket may not have been attached to the front fuel tank strap, allowing the fuel tank strap to separate from the frame.

Remedy

Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, install the reinforcement bracket, free of charge.

The recall is expected to begin February 6, 2017.

Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332.

Ford’s number for this recall is 16S45.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Check if your Vehicle has a Recall

December 20, 2016

TO: All U.S. Ford and Lincoln Dealers

SUBJECT: NEW VEHICLE DEMONSTRATION / DELIVERY HOLD – Safety Recall 16S45
Certain 2017 Model Year F-Super Duty Vehicles
Frame Crossmember Reinforcement Bracket Inspection

AFFECTED VEHICLES

Vehicle	Model Year	Assembly Plant	Build Dates
F-Super Duty	2017	Kentucky Truck	August 10, 2016 through September 17, 2016

Affected vehicles are identified in OASIS and FSA VIN Lists.

REASON FOR THIS SAFETY RECALL

In some of the affected vehicles, a frame crossmember reinforcement bracket at the attachment of the front fuel tank strap may be missing, which is required for long-term durability. Over time, a missing frame crossmember reinforcement bracket may lead to the fuel tank strap separating from the frame, resulting in the fuel tank moving out of position and potentially contacting the ground, increasing the risk of a fuel leak. A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source may increase the risk of a fire.

SERVICE ACTION

Dealers are to inspect for the presence of the frame crossmember reinforcement bracket. If the frame crossmember reinforcement bracket is missing, dealers will install a new frame crossmember reinforcement bracket following the technical information in Attachment III. This service must be performed on all affected vehicles at no charge to the vehicle owner.

OWNER NOTIFICATION MAILING SCHEDULE

Owner letters are expected to be mailed the week of February 6, 2017. Dealers should repair any affected vehicles that arrive at their dealerships, whether or not the customer has received a letter.

PLEASE NOTE:

Federal law requires dealers to complete this recall service before a new vehicle is delivered to the buyer or lessee. Violation of this requirement by a dealer could result in a civil penalty of up to $21,000 per vehicle. Correct all vehicles in your new vehicle inventory before delivery.

ATTACHMENTS

Attachment I: Administrative Information
Attachment II: Labor Allowances and Parts Ordering Information
Attachment III: Technical Information
Owner Notification Letter

QUESTIONS & ASSISTANCE

For questions and assistance, contact the Special Service Support Center (SSSC) via the SSSC Web

Contact Site. The SSSC Web Contact Site can be accessed through the Professional Technician Society (PTS) website using the SSSC link listed at the bottom of the OASIS VIN report screen or listed under the SSSC tab.

Sincerely,

Michael A. Berardi

ATTACHMENT I

NEW VEHICLE DEMONSTRATION / DELIVERY HOLD – Safety Recall 16S45
Certain 2017 Model Year F-Super Duty Vehicles
Frame Crossmember Reinforcement Bracket Inspection

OASIS ACTIVATION

OASIS will be activated on December 20, 2016.

FSA VIN LISTS ACTIVATION

FSA VIN Lists will be available through https://web.fsavinlists.dealerconnection.com on December 20, 2016. Owner names and addresses will be available week of February 17, 2017.

NOTE: Your FSA VIN Lists may contain owner names and addresses obtained from motor vehicle registration records. The use of such motor vehicle registration data for any purpose other than in connection with this recall is a violation of law in several states, provinces, and countries.

Accordingly, you must limit the use of this listing to the follow-up necessary to complete this recall.

SOLD VEHICLES

Owners of affected vehicles will be directed to dealers for repairs.
Immediately contact any of your affected customers whose vehicles are not on your VIN list but are identified in OASIS. Give the customer a copy of the Owner Notification Letter (when available) and schedule a service date.
Correct other affected vehicles identified in OASIS which are brought to your dealership.
Dealers are to prioritize repairs of customer vehicles over repairs of new and used vehicle inventory.

STOCK VEHICLES

Correct all affected units in your new vehicle inventory before delivery.
Use OASIS to identify any affected vehicles in your used vehicle inventory.

DEALER-OPERATED RENTAL VEHICLES

A new law prohibits a Rental Company from selling, renting or leasing vehicles subject to a safety or compliance recall. This could impact dealer-operated rental fleets of 35 vehicles or more, including FRAC, LRAC, and DDR vehicles. Please see EFC04833 for details and consult your legal counsel for legal advice.

TITLE BRANDED / SALVAGED VEHICLES

Affected title branded and salvaged vehicles are eligible for this recall.

ADDITIONAL REPAIR (LABOR TIME AND/OR PARTS)

Additional repairs identified as necessary to complete the FSA should be managed as follows:

For vehicles within new vehicle bumper-to-bumper warranty coverage, follow existing warranty and policy guidelines for related damage claims. No SSSC approval is required for these vehicles:
- Ford vehicles – 3 years or 36,000 miles

OWNER REFUNDS

Refunds are not approved for this program.

RENTAL VEHICLES

With proper dealer parts ordering and service appointment scheduling, rental vehicles should not be required. However, if you have a unique owner circumstance which may require a rental vehicle, please contact the SSSC via the SSSC Web Contact Site.

CLAIMS PREPARATION AND SUBMISSION

Enter claims using Direct Warranty Entry (DWE) or One Warranty Solution (OWS).
- DWE: refer to ACESII manual for claims preparation and submission information.
- OWS: when entering claims in DMS software, select claim type 31: Field Service Action. The FSA number 16S45 is the sub code.
Additional labor and/or parts must be claimed as related damage on a separate repair line from the FSA.
For rental vehicle claiming, follow Extended Service Plan (ESP) guidelines for dollar amounts. Enter the total amount of the rental expense under Miscellaneous Expense code RENTAL.
Provision for Locally Obtained Supplies: Brake Cleaner PM-4-A. Submit on the same line as the repair.
- Program Code: 16S45
- Expense: OTHER
- Expense: Claim up to $4.50

ATTACHMENT II

NEW VEHICLE DEMONSTRATION / DELIVERY HOLD – Safety Recall 16S45
Certain 2017 Model Year F-Super Duty Vehicles
Frame Crossmember Reinforcement Bracket Inspection

LABOR ALLOWANCES

Description	Labor Operation	Labor Time
Inspect for presence of the frame crossmember reinforcement bracket – PASS (no service required)	16S45A	0.3 Hours
Inspect for presence of the frame crossmember reinforcement bracket – DOES NOT PASS (install frame crossmember reinforcement bracket)	16S45B	0.7 Hours

PARTS REQUIREMENTS / ORDERING INFORMATION

NOTE: Less than 5% of the affected vehicle population is expected to require installation of the frame crossmember reinforcement bracket.

Part Number	Description	Order Quantity	Claim Quantity
W718865-S439	Bolt (4/package, 1 needed)	1	1
Motorcraft TA-1	Motorcraft TA-1 Metal Bonding Adhesive	1	1
HC3Z-5097-A	Frame Crossmember Reinforcement Bracket	1	1
PM-4-A	Brake Parts Cleaner		Claim as MISC OTHER

NOTE: One can of brake parts cleaner will repair approximately 10 vehicles. Please order only enough product to repair affected in-stock vehicles.

The DOR/COR number for this recall is 51067.

Order your parts through normal order processing channels. To guarantee the shortest delivery time, an emergency order for parts must be placed.

DEALER PRICE

For latest prices, refer to DOES II.

PARTS RETENTION AND RETURN

Follow the provisions of the Warranty and Policy Manual, Section 1 – WARRANTY PARTS RETENTION AND RETURN POLICIES.

EXCESS STOCK RETURN

Excess stock returned for credit must have been purchased from Ford Customer Service Division in accordance with Policy Procedure Bulletin 4000.

ATTACHMENT III

Certain 2017 MODEL YEAR F-SUPER DUTY VEHICLES — FRAME CROSSMEMBER REINFORCEMENT BRACKET INSPECTION

OVERVIEW

SERVICE PROCEDURE

With the vehicle in NEUTRAL, position it on a hoist. Please follow the procedures in Workshop Manual (WSM) Section 100-02.
Inspect the number three crossmember for the presence of a frame crossmember reinforcement bracket located inside the LH frame rail near the front fuel tank strap. See Figures 1 and 2.
- If a frame crossmember reinforcement bracket is present, no action is necessary.
- If a frame crossmember reinforcement bracket is not present, proceed to Step 3.

FIGURE 1

FIGURE 2

If equipped, remove the three skid plate bracket to crossmember bolts and the three skid plate bracket to frame rail bolts. With the help of an assistant, remove the skid plate. See Figure 3.

FIGURE 3

Position a jack stand under the fuel tank.
Remove and discard the outboard front fuel tank strap bolt. Position the fuel tank strap aside to gain access to the J-clip. See Figures 4 and 5.

FIGURE 4

Remove the fuel tank strap J-clip. See Figure 5.

FIGURE 5

Prepare for frame crossmember reinforcement bracket installation. See Figure 6.
1. Clean the inside of the crossmember with soap and water.
2. Clean the inside of the crossmember with Motorcraft Brake Parts Cleaner PM-4-A and allow the surface to dry.

FIGURE 6

Apply Motorcraft TA-1 adhesive to the bottom of the new frame crossmember reinforcement bracket. See Figure 7.

NOTE: A part number is stamped on the top surface of the frame crossmember reinforcement bracket.
Apply adhesive to the surface that has NO part number markings. See Figure 8.

NOTE: Spread adhesive evenly to ensure all gaps between the frame crossmember reinforcement bracket and the crossmember will be filled. Adhesive should squeeze out from all edges when the bolt is tightened.

FIGURE 7

FIGURE 8

Install the frame crossmember reinforcement bracket to the crossmember.
- Align the round and square holes in the frame crossmember reinforcement bracket with the corresponding holes in the crossmember.
- When properly aligned, the square hole and reinforcement will overlap slightly.
  See Figure 9.

FIGURE 9

Reinstall the J-clip. See Figure 5.
Install the front fuel tank strap and install a new outboard front fuel tank strap bolt. See Figure 4.
- Tighten bolts to 30 lb.ft (40 Nm).
Remove the jack stand from under the fuel tank.
If equipped, install the skid plate. See Figure 3.
- Non 176″ (447 cm) wheel base vehicles – Tighten all bolts to 18 lb.ft (25 Nm).
- 176″ (447 cm) wheel base vehicles – Tighten the two front skid plate to frame rail bolts to 59 lb.ft (80 Nm). Tighten the rear skid plate to frame rail and skid plate to crossmember bolts to 18 lb.ft (25 Nm).

February 2017

* * * IMPORTANT SAFETY RECALL * * *
(PROGRAMA DE SEGURIDAD IMPORTANTE)

Safety Recall Notice 16S45 / NHTSA Recall 16V-945
Aviso de Revisión de Seguridad 16S45

Mr. John Sample
123 Main Street
Anywhere, USA 12345

Your Vehicle Identification Number (VIN): 12345678901234567

This notice is sent to you in accordance with the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act.

Ford Motor Company has decided that a defect which relates to motor vehicle safety exists in your vehicle, with the VIN shown above.

We apologize for this situation and want to assure you that, with your assistance, we will correct this condition. Our commitment, together with your dealer, is to provide you with the highest level of service and support.

What is the issue?	Your vehicle may be missing a frame crossmember reinforcement bracket at the attachment of the front fuel tank strap, which is required for long-term durability. Over time, the missing frame crossmember reinforcement bracket could lead to the fuel tank strap separating from the frame, resulting in the fuel tank moving out of position and potentially contacting the ground, increasing the risk of a fuel leak. A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source may increase the risk of a fire.
What will Ford and your dealer do?	Ford Motor Company has authorized your dealer to inspect and if necessary, install a new frame crossmember reinforcement bracket on your vehicle free of charge (parts and labor).
How long will it take?	The time needed for this repair is less than one-half day. However, due to service scheduling requirements, your dealer may need your vehicle for a longer period of time. In addition, your vehicle will require an inspection to determine if parts need to be ordered.
What should you do?	Please call your dealer without delay and request a service date for Recall 16S45. Provide the dealer with your VIN, which is printed near your name at the beginning of this letter. If you do not already have a servicing dealer, you can access www.Fordowner.com for dealer addresses, maps, and driving instructions. Ford Motor Company wants you to have this safety recall completed on your vehicle. The vehicle owner is responsible for making arrangements to have the work completed. Ford Motor Company can deny coverage for any vehicle damage that may result from the failure to have this recall performed on a timely basis. Therefore, please have this recall performed as soon as possible. Please note: Federal law requires that any vehicle lessor receiving this recall notice must forward a copy of this notice to the lessee within ten days.
What if you no longer own this vehicle?	If you no longer own this vehicle, and have an address for the current owner, please forward this letter to the new owner. You received this notice because government regulations require that notification be sent to the last known owner of record. Our records are based primarily on state registration and title data, which indicate that you are the current owner.
Can we assist you further?	If you have difficulties getting your vehicle repaired promptly and without charge, please contact your dealership’s Service Manager for assistance. RETAIL OWNERS: If you have questions or concerns, please contact our Ford Customer Relationship Center at 1-866-436-7332 and one of our representatives will be happy to assist you. If you wish to contact us through the Internet, our address is: www.Fordowner.com. For the hearing impaired call 1-800-232-5952 (TDD). Representatives are available Monday through Friday: 8:00AM – 8:00PM(Eastern Time). FLEET OWNERS: If you have questions or concerns, please contact our Fleet Customer Information Center at 1-800-34-FLEET, choose Option #3, and one of our representatives will be happy to assist you. If you wish to contact us through the Internet, our address is: www.fleet.ford.com. Representatives are available Monday through Friday: 8:00AM – 8:00PM(Eastern Time). (If you are still having difficulty getting your vehicle repaired in a reasonable time or without charge, you may write the Administrator, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 1200 New Jersey Ave. S.E., Washington, D.C. 20590 or call the toll free Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY: 1-800-424-9153) or go to www.safercar.gov. Reference NHTSA Safety Recall 16S45.
Para asistencia en Español	Visite nuestro sitio web para ver este anuncio en Español al siguiente dirección: https://es.owner.ford.com/recall . Si necesita ayuda o tiene alguna pregunta, por favor llame al Centro de Relación con Clientes al 1-866-436-7332 y presione 2 para Español.