23S64 – Engine Oil Pump Belt Tensioner Replacement – 2016-2018 Ford Focus & 2018-2022 EcoSport

SEOCONTENT-START

© Copyright 2023 Ford Motor Company
Stacy L. Balzer Ford Motor Company
Director P. O. Box 1904
Service Engineering Operations Dearborn, Michigan 48121 Ford Customer Service Division
January 4, 2024
TO: All U.S. Ford and Lincoln Dealers SUBJECT: NEW VEHICLE DEMONSTRATION / DELIVERY HOLD – Advance Notice
Safety Recall 23S64
Certain 2016-2022 Model Year vehicles equipped with 1.0 Liter Fox Engines Engine Oil Pump Belt Tensioner Replacement
AFFECTED VEHICLES
Vehicle Model Year Assembly Plant Build Dates EcoSport Focus 2017-2022 2016-2018 Chennai Plant Build
Michigan Plant Build April 3, 2017, through October 12, 2021 March 24, 2015, through May 4, 2018 US population of affected vehicles: 135,820. Affected vehicles are identified in OASIS and FSA VIN Lists.
REASON FOR THIS SAFETY RECALL
In some of the affected vehicles, the engine oil pump drive belt tensioner arm may fracture, separate from the tensioner backing plate, and/or the oil pump drive belt material may degrade and lose teeth, resulting in a loss of engine oil pressure. A loss of engine oil pressure can result in engine damage and/or seizure, which can result in a loss of motive power and a loss of the mechanical vacuum pump required to provide power braking assist, increasing the risk of a crash.
SERVICE ACTION
DO NOT DEMONSTRATE OR DELIVER any new in-stock vehicles involved in this safety recall. A complete Dealer Bulletin will be provided to dealers 2ⁿᵈ Quarter 2024 when it is anticipated that parts ordering information and repair instructions will be available to support this safety recall. For new vehicle storage guidelines, refer to EFC13033, Storage Guidelines for New Vehicles.
IMPORTANT: Dealers should open a Repair Order (RO) only when a full dealer bulletin is published. Opening an RO against an Awareness or Advance Notice will result in warranty rejections against a recall.
CUSTOMER NOTIFICATION
Owners of record will be notified via first-class mail after repair instructions and parts ordering information have been provided to dealers.
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 $26,315 per vehicle. Correct all vehicles in your new vehicle inventory prior to delivery. © Copyright 2023 Ford Motor Company
DEALER-OPERATED RENTAL VEHICLES
The Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act law effective June 2016 prohibits a rental company from selling, renting, or leasing vehicles subject to a safety or compliance recall. Please consult your legal counsel for legal advice.
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 System (PTS) website using the SSSC link listed at the bottom of the OASIS VIN report screen or listed under the SSSC tab.
Sincerely,
Stacy L. Balzer

**************************************************************************************************************

OMB Control No.: 2127-0004
Part 573 Safety Recall Report 23V-905
The information contained in this report was submitted pursuant to 49 CFR §573
Manufacturer Name : Submission Date :
Ford Motor Company DEC 22, 2023 NHTSA Recall No. : 23V-905 Manufacturer Recall No. : 23S64 Manufacturer Information :
Manufacturer Name : Ford Motor Company Address : 330 Town Center Drive
Suite 500 Dearborn MI 48126-2738
Company phone : 1-866-436-7332
Population :
Number of potentially involved : 139,730 Estimated percentage with defect : 100 %
Vehicle Information : Vehicle 1 : 2016-2018 Ford Focus Vehicle Type : LIGHT VEHICLES Body Style : ALL Power Train : GAS
Descriptive Information : Affected vehicles were built from March 24, 2015, to May 4, 2018, and are equipped with 1.0L engines paired
with 6F15 automatic transmissions. These vehicles are not produced in VIN order. Information as to the applicability of this action to specific
vehicles can best be obtained by either calling Ford’s toll-free line (1-866-436-7332) or by contacting a local
Ford or Lincoln dealer who can obtain specific information regarding the vehicles from the Ford On-line
Automotive Service Information System (OASIS) database. 26,041 Ford Focus vehicles are affected.
Production Dates : MAR 24, 2015 – MAY 04, 2018
VIN Range 1 : Begin : NR End : NR Not sequential Part 573 Safety Recall Report 23V-905 Page 2 Vehicle 2 : 2018-2022 Ford EcoSport Vehicle Type : LIGHT VEHICLES Body Style : ALL Power Train : GAS
Descriptive Information : Affected vehicles were built from April 3, 2017, to October 12, 2021, and are equipped with 1.0L engines
paired with 6F15 automatic transmissions. These vehicles are not produced in VIN order. Information as to the applicability of this action to specific
vehicles can best be obtained by either calling Ford’s toll-free line (1-866-436-7332) or by contacting a local
Ford or Lincoln dealer who can obtain specific information regarding the vehicles from the Ford On-line
Automotive Service Information System (OASIS) database. 113,689 Ford EcoSport vehicles are affected.
Production Dates : APR 03, 2017 – OCT 12, 2021
VIN Range 1 : Begin : NR End : NR Not sequential Description of Defect :
Description of the Defect : The engine oil pump drive belt tensioner arm may fracture, separate
from the tensioner backing plate, and/or the oil pump drive belt material may degrade and lose teeth, resulting
in a loss of engine oil pressure.
FMVSS 1 : NR FMVSS 2 : NR
Description of the Safety Risk : A loss of engine oil pressure can result in engine damage or seizure, which
can
result in a loss of motive power and a loss of the mechanical vacuum pump required to provide power braking
assist, increasing the risk of a crash.
Description of the Cause : The oil pump drive belt tensioner arm retention caulking joint is not robust to the vibration
experienced by the component over time, which can cause arm separation. The tensioner arm can contact the
engine balancer shaft, which can cause the tensioner arm to fracture. A greater than expected load on the oil
pump drive belt may result in belt degradation. Ford’s engine design verification testing did not adequately
represent the load on the oil pump tensioner system experienced in the vehicle.
Identification of Any Warning The instrument cluster will display a low oil pressure
warning message and may also display a check engine light. If the vehicle The information contained in this report was submitted pursuant to 49 CFR §573 Part 573 Safety Recall Report 23V-905 Page 3 that can Occur : continues to be driven, there may
be a reduction in available power. Engine failure is expected to produce loud noises audible to the vehicle’s
occupants. Involved Components : Component Name 1 : Drive Belt – Oil Pump Component Description : Oil Pump Drive Belt Component Part Number : F1FZ-6B651-AA Component Name 2 : Tensioner – Drive Belt
Component Description : Oil Pump Drive Belt Tensioner Assembly Component Part Number : F1FG-6C777-AD Supplier Identification : Component Manufacturer
Name : Dayco Europe SRL Address : Stradale Torino, 603
San Bernardo D’ivrea, 10015 Foreign States
Country : Italy Chronology :
On February 15, 2022, Ford’s Critical Concern Review Group (CCRG) reviewed a potential issue pertaining to 1.0L Fox Classic engine oil pump belt tensioner failures. The CCRG determined that this issue did not present an unreasonable risk to motor vehicle safety as the majority of customer verbatims indicated symptoms in the form of check engine light, low oil pressure light, and engine noise. There were no accident or injury allegations related to the concern at the time of that investigation’s closure. On July 23, 2023, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) contacted Ford regarding allegations of loss of motive power due to engine oil pump failures in 2018 to 2021 Model Year EcoSport Vehicles equipped with 1.0L Fox Classic engines. On August 1, 2023, the CCRG reviewed this issue again and investigated loss of motive power complaints. The information contained in this report was submitted pursuant to 49 CFR §573 Part 573 Safety Recall Report 23V-905 Page 4 From August-October, 2023, Ford conducted vehicle level testing with a failed oil pump drive belt to understand the progression of symptoms. Ford obtained and performed tear-down analysis on 21 warranty return engines with suspected failed oil pumps. This teardown analysis identified the root cause failure modes. On September 20, 2023, NHTSA opened Preliminary Evaluation (PE23-015) to determine the scope and severity of the alleged engine failure and to fully assess the potential safety-related issues. NHTSA provided 95 related VOQs with this PE. Ford provided a response to PE23-015 on November 29, 2023. Between June 10, 2016 and October 6, 2023 Ford is aware of 2099 warranty claims for this issue. On December 15, 2023, Ford’s Field Review Committee reviewed the concern and approved a field action. Ford is aware of one allegation of a crash resulting in two injuries potentially related to this concern. Ford is unaware of any fatalities related to this concern. Description of Remedy :
Description of Remedy Program : When parts are available, owners will be notified by mail and instructed to
take their vehicle to a Ford or
Lincoln dealer to have the oil pump drive belt tensioner assembly the oil pump drive belt replaced. There will
be no charge for this service. Ford provided the general reimbursement plan for the cost of remedies paid for by vehicle
owners prior to notification of a safety recall in May 2023. Ford will forward a copy of the notification letters to dealers to the agency when available. How Remedy Component Differs from Recalled Component : The remedy oil pump tensioner assembly (F1FZ-6B651-BA) will utilize a bolted joint to retain the tensioner arm
and a shorter tensioner arm to prevent contact with the balance shaft. The remedy oil pump drive belt (F1FG-6C777-BA) will have updated material properties to prevent the drive belt material from degrading or losing teeth. Identify How/When Recall Condition NR was Corrected in Production : Recall Schedule :
Description of Recall Schedule : Notification to dealers is expected to occur on January 3, 2024 Mailing of
owner notification letters is expected The information contained in this report was submitted pursuant to 49 CFR §573 Part 573 Safety Recall Report 23V-905
Page 5
The information contained in this report was submitted pursuant to 49 CFR §573
to begin February 13, 2024 and is expected to be completed by February 20, 2024
Planned Dealer Notification Date : JAN 03, 2024 – JAN 03, 2024
Planned Owner Notification Date : FEB 13, 2024 – FEB 20, 2024
* NR – Not Reported

**************************************************************************************************************

**************************************************************************************************************

**************************************************************************************************************

SEOCONTENT-END