17S03 – Left-Hand Underbody Apron Weld Inspection and Repair – 2016 Ford Focus & C-Max – Ford & Lincoln

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NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V052
Manufacturer Ford Motor Company
Components STRUCTURE
Potential Number of Units Affected 17

Improper Weld Joints on Floor Pan

Improperly welded apron joints may reduce the front-end structural integrity of the vehicle, increasing the risk of injury in the event of a crash.

Summary

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016 Focus and C-Max vehicles.

The floor pan may have improperly welded left-hand apron joints.

Remedy

Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the apron joints, repairing the vehicle, as necessary, free of charge.

The recall began March 8, 2017.

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

Ford’s number for this recall is 17S03.

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

January 25, 2017

TO: All U.S. Ford and Lincoln Dealers

SUBJECT: NEW VEHICLE DEMONSTRATION / DELIVERY HOLD – Safety Recall 17S03
Certain 2016 Model Year Focus and C-Max Vehicles
Left-Hand Underbody Apron Weld Inspection and Repair

AFFECTED VEHICLES

Vehicle	Model Year	Assembly Plant	Build Dates
Focus	2016	Michigan	October 26, 2016 through October 27, 2016
C-Max	2016	Michigan	October 26, 2016 through October 26, 2016

Affected vehicles are identified in OASIS and FSA VIN Lists.

REASON FOR THIS SAFETY RECALL

SERVICE ACTION

Before demonstrating or delivering any new in-stock vehicles involved in this recall, dealers are to inspect the repaired left-hand underbody apron assembly rivets for proper installation, and replace any improperly installed or missing rivets as necessary. 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 March 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 17S03
Certain 2016 Model Year Focus and C-Max Vehicles
Left-Hand Underbody Apron Weld Inspection and Repair

OASIS ACTIVATION

OASIS will be activated on January 25, 2017.

FSA VIN LISTS ACTIVATION

FSA VIN Lists will be available through https://web.fsavinlists.dealerconnection.com on January 25, 2017. Owner names and addresses will be available by March 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
For vehicles outside new vehicle bumper-to-bumper warranty coverage, submit an Approval Request to the SSSC Web Contact Site prior to completing the repair.

OWNER REFUNDS

Refunds are not approved for this program.

RENTAL VEHICLES

Dealers are pre-approved for up to 2 days for a comparable rental vehicle. Follow Extended Service Plan (ESP) guidelines for dollar amounts. Rentals will only be reimbursed for the day(s) the vehicle is at the dealership for part replacement. Prior approval for more than 2 rental day(s) is required from 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 (17S03) 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: An allowance is provided for locally obtaining Kent Leak Check Water Leak Sealer P50087 (or equivalent) when using labor operation 17S03.
- Program Code: 17S03 – Expense: OTHER
- Expense: Claim actual cost up to $30

ATTACHMENT II

NEW VEHICLE DEMONSTRATION / DELIVERY HOLD – Safety Recall 17S03
Certain 2016 Model Year Focus and C-Max Vehicles
Left-Hand Underbody Apron Weld Inspection and Repair

LABOR ALLOWANCES

Description	Labor Operation	Labor Time
Inspect and Replace up to 10 rivets	MT17S03	Actual Time up to 3.0 Hours

PARTS REQUIREMENTS / ORDERING INFORMATION

Part Number	Description	Order Quantity
Supplied at no charge by SSSC*	Assorted Rivet Kit	1
Obtain Locally	Kent Leak Check Water Leak Sealer P50087 (or equivalent) (obtain from https://www.lawsonproducts.com)	1 – 24 oz. can

* To place an order for an Assorted Rivet Kit, submit a VIN-specific Part Order contact via the SSSC Web Contact Site.

The DOR/COR number for this recall is 51070.

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 2016 MODEL YEAR FOCUS AND C-MAX VEHICLES — LEFT-HAND UNDERBODY APRON WELD INSPECTION AND REPAIR

OVERVIEW

In the affected vehicles, improper spot welds on the left-hand underbody apron assembly were repaired using rivets at the assembly plant, and the repair may not have been performed properly. Vehicles with an improperly repaired left-hand underbody apron assembly may have reduced front-end structural integrity, potentially increasing the risk of injury in a frontal crash. Before demonstrating or delivering any new in-stock vehicles involved in this recall, dealers are to inspect the repaired left-hand underbody apron assembly rivets for proper installation, and replace any improperly installed or missing rivets as necessary.

This service must be performed on all affected vehicles at no charge to the vehicle owner.

INSPECTION PROCEDURE

Remove the retainers and the LH splash shield. See Figure 1.

FIGURE 1

NOTE: Figure 2 shows a vehicle with ten (10) correctly applied factory spot welds. On the affected vehicles, these spot welds are inadequate or missing, and were replaced with rivets. Each spot weld location point must contain a rivet. See Figure 2.

Locate the rivets installed into the floor pan seam, under the vehicle behind the LH front tire. Inspect the rivets for proper installation. See Figures 2, 3a and 3b.
- If the rivets are installed and seated properly in each location, no further action is required.
  See Figures 2, 3a and 3b.
- If any of the rivets are installed but seated improperly, proceed to Repair Procedure on Page 3. See Figures 2, 3a, and 3b.
- If a rivet is not installed in any of the ten (10) locations shown in Figure 2, install the correct rivet(s) as needed. Drill a hole in the appropriate location(s) using a suitable 17/64 in (6.75 mm) drill bit. Proceed to Repair Procedure, Step 6 on Page 5.

FIGURE 2

FIGURE 3a FIGURE 3b

REPAIR PROCEDURE

Remove the hood latch release handle and the LH cowl trim panel. See Figure 4.

a. Position aside the front door weatherstrip and the driver door scuff plate.
b. Remove the hood latch release handle access cover.
c. Release the clips releasing the hood latch release handle and remove the hood latch release handle.

NOTE: Insert a 1/4 in (10 mm) drive socket to release the clips.

FIGURE 4

Remove the hood latch release. See Figure 5.

a. Position aside the LH carpet and foam.
b. Release the routing cable clips, remove the retainers and the hood latch release.

FIGURE 5

NOTE: Steps 3 and 4 are only required if replacing the rear most “B” rivet. See Figure 2.

Remove the retainers and the RH splash shield. See Figure 1.

NOTE: LH shown, RH similar.

Remove the two nuts and four bolts, then remove the crossbrace. See Figure 6.

FIGURE 6

Remove any rivets that were improperly installed, using a suitable 17/64 in (6.75 mm) drill bit.
Vacuum all metal shavings from the floor.

NOTE: When installing rivets ensure that they are aligned straight through the drilled hole and fully seated against the floor. Inspect all rivets again after installing to ensure they compressed properly when installed. See Figure 3a.

NOTE: It is recommended to use a low-profile, pneumatic rivet gun when installing new rivets.

Install the rivets using a suitable rivet gun, from inside the vehicle. See Figure 7.
- If replacing rivets at “A” locations, install a short “A” rivet. See Figure 2.
- If replacing rivets at “B” locations, install a longer “B” rivet. See Figure 2.

FIGURE 7

Seal the underbody seam and rivets using Kent Leak Check Water Leak Sealer P50087 (or equivalent). See Figure 8.

FIGURE 8

If removed, install the crossbrace, four bolts, and two nuts. See Figure 6.
- Torque: 35 lb.ft (47 Nm).
Install both RH and LH splash shields and the retainers. See Figure 1.
Install the hood latch release. See Figure 5.

a. Attach the routing cable clips, retainers, and the hood latch release.
b. Reposition back the LH carpet and foam.

Install the hood latch release handle and the LH cowl trim panel. See Figure 4.

a. Attach the clips to attach the hood latch release handle and install the hood latch release handle.
b. Install the hood latch release handle access cover.
c. Reposition the front door weatherstrip and the driver door scuff plate.

March 2017

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

Safety Recall Notice 17S03 / NHTSA Recall 17V-052
Aviso de Revisión de Seguridad 17S03

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?	On your vehicle, it may be possible that sections of sheet metal in the left-hand front floor pan were not secured together properly by welds and/or rivets. Vehicles with improperly secured left-hand front floor pan sections may have reduced front-end structural integrity, potentially increasing the risk of injury in a frontal crash.
What will Ford and your dealer do?	Ford Motor Company has authorized your dealer to inspect the left-hand front floor pan, and repair the vehicle as necessary 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 17S03. 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 yourvehicle. The vehicle owner is responsible for making arrangements to have the work completed. 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. Your vehicle may be equipped with a diagnostic feature called the Vehicle Health Report which can inform you about all available recalls, as well as other key vehicle health information. Please see https://owner.ford.com/vehicle –health for more information.
Do you need a rental vehicle?	If your dealer determines that the left-hand front floor pan sheet metal requires a repair and needs your vehicle overnight, your dealer is authorized to provide a rental vehicle for your personal transportation at no charge (except for fuel and insurance) while your vehicle is at the dealership for repairs. Please see your dealer for guidelines and limitations.
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 17V-052.
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.