Compliance Recall 17C09 – Ford Accessory Chrome Exterior Door Handle Trim Covers – 2015-2017 Ford F-Series – Ford & Lincoln

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NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V331
Manufacturer Ford Motor Company
Components STRUCTURE, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
Potential Number of Units Affected 14,410

Door may Unlatch in a Side Impact Collision

If the doors unlatch and open in a side impact collision, the occupants have an increased risk of injury.

Summary

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2017 F-150, and 2017 F-250, F-350, F-450, and F-550 vehicles originally produced with black or body colored exterior door handles that may have been subsequently equipped with a chrome exterior door handle cover accessory kit purchased from a Ford dealer.

These accessory door handle covers may cause the doors to unlatch in a side impact collision.

As such, these vehicles may fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 206, “Door Locks and Door Retention Components.”

Remedy

Ford will notify owners, and dealers will remove the accessory covers and refund the purchase price.

The recall began July 13, 2017.

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

Ford’s number for the recall is 17C09.

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

July 20, 2017

TO: All U.S. Ford and Lincoln Dealers

SUBJECT: Compliance Recall 17C09 – Supplement #1
Certain 2015-2017 Model Year F-150 and 2017 Model Year F-250 – F-550 Vehicles
Fitted with Ford Accessory Chrome Exterior Door Handle Trim Covers
Remove and Discard Ford Accessory Chrome Exterior Door Handle Trim Covers

REASON FOR THIS SUPPLEMENT

Affected Vehicles o Vehicles that were identified through dealer contacts to the SSSC and from outbound calls from Ford to dealers have been added to this program.
- All potentially affected vehicles assigned to dealers that ordered and/or sold Ford Accessory chrome exterior door handle trim covers have been added to this program.
The affected part numbers have been corrected, as they were misstated in the original posting. Dealers are to review their part sales records and contact any owners to whom an affected Ford Accessory chrome exterior door handle trim cover kit has been sold.
Owner Notification Mailing Schedule o Owners of affected vehicles will be notified the week of July 17, 2017.

AFFECTED VEHICLES

Vehicle	Model Year	Assembly Plant	Build Dates
F-150	2015-2017	Dearborn	All
F-150	2015-2017	Kansas City	All
F250 – F-550	2017	Kentucky	All
F350 – F-550	2017	Ohio	All

Vehicles identified through dealer contacts to the SSSC and from outbound calls from Ford to dealers, and potentially affected vehicles assigned to dealers that ordered and/or sold Ford Accessory chrome exterior door handle trim covers have been added to this program, and are identified in OASIS and FSA VIN Lists.

* 14,349 vehicles assigned to dealers that ordered and/or sold the affected Ford Accessory have been added to this compliance recall.

This recall affects vehicles fitted with over-the-counter Ford Accessory part numbers only: VFL3Z-1522404-A, VFL3Z-1522404-B, VFL3Z-1522468-A, VFL3Z-1522468-B Approximately 398 kits may have been sold through US Ford dealers.

Refer to Attachment III for additional photographs of Ford Accessory chrome exterior door handle trim covers affected by this recall.

IMPORTANT: This recall does not affect the following vehicles equipped with factory chrome exterior door handles (refer to photograph in Attachment III):

F-150: Platinum (700A, 701A), Limited (900A), XLT Chrome Package (86B), Lariat Chrome Package (86L), King Ranch Chrome Package (86K)
F-250 – F-550: Platinum (703A, 713A, 723A, 773A), XLT Premium Package(17P), Chrome Package (17C)

REASON FOR THIS COMPLIANCE RECALL

Vehicles fitted with these Ford Accessory exterior chrome door handle trim covers may not conform to the requirements specified by Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 206, Door Locks & Door Retention Components – Inertial Load Requirement. A door handle fitted with the Ford Accessory chrome cover could unlatch during a side impact, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.

SERVICE ACTION

Dealers are to review their part sales records and contact any customers to whom an affected Ford Accessory chrome exterior door handle trim cover kit has been sold. Give the owner a copy of the 17C09 Owner Notification Letter and schedule a service date. If a non-involved vehicle is found to have the Ford Accessory chrome exterior door handle trim covers installed, please contact the Special Service Support Center (SSSC) via the Web Contact Site, using a VIN specific Non-Involved Vehicle Request to request adding an affected VIN to this compliance recall prior to performing this service action.

Dealers are to inspect affected vehicles for Ford Accessory chrome exterior door handle trim covers. If the vehicle is not fitted with Ford Accessory chrome exterior door handle trim covers, no service is required. If the vehicle is fitted with Ford Accessory chrome exterior door handle trim covers, Dealers are to remove and discard the covers.

Dealers are also pre-approved to refund owners for the purchase price of the Ford Accessory exterior chrome door handle trim cover kit once the covers have been discarded. If a receipt is not available, dealers may refund owners for the MSRP of the kit.

NOTE: Vehicles equipped with factory chrome exterior door handles were excluded from this program.

OWNER NOTIFICATION MAILING SCHEDULE

Owner letters are expected to be mailed the week of July 17, 2017. Dealers should inspect any affected vehicles that arrive at their dealerships and repair as needed, 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

Compliance Recall 17C09 – Supplement #1
Certain 2015-2017 Model Year F-150 and 2017 Model Year F-250 – F-550 Vehicles
Fitted with Ford Accessory Chrome Exterior Door Handle Trim Covers
Remove and Discard Ford Accessory Chrome Exterior Door Handle Trim Covers

OASIS ACTIVATION

OASIS will be activated on July 20, 2017.

FSA VIN LISTS ACTIVATION

FSA VIN Lists will be available through https://web.fsavinlists.dealerconnection.com on July 20, 2017. Owner names and addresses will be available by July 28, 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

Immediately contact any customers who have purchased a Ford Accessory chrome exterior door handle trim cover kit through your dealership. Give the customer a copy of the Owner Notification Letter (when available) and schedule a service date.
Correct other affected vehicles identified to have Ford Accessory chrome exterior door handle trim covers installed which are brought to your dealership.

STOCK VEHICLES

Correct all affected units in your new and used vehicle inventories before delivery.

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.

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

Ford Motor Company is offering a refund for owner-paid purchase price or MSRP of the Ford Accessory Chrome Exterior Door Handle Trim Covers covered by this recall.
Vehicle owners are not required to present a receipt for a refund if the vehicle is equipped with the Ford Accessory chrome exterior door handle trim covers.
This recall must be performed, claimed and closed BEFORE submitting a refund claim.
Non-covered repairs, or those judged by Ford to be excessive, will not be reimbursed.
Refunds will only be provided for the cost associated with purchasing Ford Accessory Chrome Exterior Door Handle Trim Covers.

RENTAL VEHICLES

Rental vehicles are not approved for this program.

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 (17C09) is the sub code.
Additional labor and/or parts must be claimed as related damage on a separate repair line from the FSA.
To ensure the covers have been removed, refunds must be claimed as related damage on a separate repair line.
- Program Code: 17C09 – Expense: ADMIN
- Expense: REFUND – Misc. Expense: 0.2 Hrs.
Ford Accessory Chrome Exterior Door Handle Trim Covers MSRP
- $25.00 – 2 Handles
- $45.00 – 2 Handles/Buckets
- $52.00 – 4 Handles
- $99.00 – 4 Handles/Buckets

ATTACHMENT II

LABOR ALLOWANCES

Description	Labor Operation	Labor Time
Inspect vehicle for Ford Accessory chrome exterior door handle trim covers – PASS (no service required)	17C09A	0.2 Hours
Remove 2 Handle Trim Covers (Regular Cab and SuperCab)	17C09B	0.3 Hours
Remove 2 Handle and 2 Bucket Trim Covers (Regular Cab and SuperCab)	17C09C	0.4 Hours
Remove 4 Handle Trim Covers (SuperCrew)	17C09D	0.5 Hours
Remove 4 Handle and 4 Bucket Trim Covers (SuperCrew)	17C09E	0.6 Hours

PART RETURN INSTRUCTIONS

To return and receive reimbursement for unsold Ford Accessory exterior chrome door handle trim cover kits, please contact Ford Licensed Accessories Customer Service by phone: (877) 682-4276 or email: fla1@ford.com.

ATTACHMENT III

CERTAIN 2015-2017 MODEL YEAR F-150 AND 2017 MODEL YEAR F-250-F-550 VEHICLES FITTED WITH FORD ACCESSORY CHROME EXTERIOR DOOR HANDLE TRIM COVERS — REMOVE AND DISCARD FORD ACCESSORY CHROME EXTERIOR DOOR HANDLE TRIM COVERS

OVERVIEW

NOTE: This recall affects vehicles fitted with over-the-counter Ford Accessory part numbers only:
VFL3Z-1522404-A, VFL3Z-1522404-B, VFL3Z-1522468-A, VFL3Z-1522468-B.

Dealers are to inspect vehicles for Ford Accessory chrome exterior door handle trim covers. If the vehicle
is not fitted with Ford Accessory chrome exterior door handle trim covers, no service is required. If the
vehicle is fitted with Ford Accessory chrome exterior door handle trim covers, Dealers are to remove and
discard the covers.

Figures 1, 2 and 3 illustrate common installation configurations of the Ford Accessory chrome exterior door handle covers. These covers must be removed and discarded.

Figure 4 illustrates a typical Factory Chrome Exterior Door Handle that does NOT require service.

FIGURE 1

Figure 1 – Black door handle with graining. Only the Ford Accessory chrome exterior door handle cover is installed. Cover removal required, refer to the Service Procedure on Page 3.

FIGURE 2

FIGURE 3

Figure 2 – Black door handle with graining. The Ford Accessory chrome exterior door handle cover and bucket are installed. Cover and bucket removal required, refer to the Service Procedure on Page 3.

Figure 3 – Painted door handle. Only the Ford Accessory chrome exterior door handle cover is installed. Cover removal required, refer to the Service Procedure on Page 3.

FIGURE 4

Figure 4 – Door handle with painted surround. Factory Chrome Exterior Door Handle. No service is required.

SERVICE PROCEDURE

Is the vehicle equipped with Ford Accessory chrome exterior door handle trim covers?
- No – service is not required.
- Yes – proceed to Step 2.
Remove and discard the Ford Accessory chrome exterior door handle/bucket trim covers from all doors. See Figure 5.
1. Use a heat gun to loosen the handle/bucket trim cover adhesive.
2. Remove and discard the covers/buckets using a plastic trim removal tool.
3. Remove any remaining adhesive with your hands and then clean the door handle with a clean cloth and isopropyl alcohol.

FIGURE 5

July 2017

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

Compliance Recall Notice 17C09 / NHTSA Recall 17V-331
Aviso de Revisión de Cumplimiento 17C09

Mr. John Sample
123 Main Street
Anywhere, USA 12345

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

Ford Motor Company has decided that your vehicle may fail to conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 206, Door Locks & Door Retention Components – Inertial Load Requirement.

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?	If Ford Accessory chrome exterior door handle trim covers have been installed on the door handles of your vehicle, the handles may not conform to the requirements specified by Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 206, Door Locks & Door Retention Components – Inertial Load Requirement. NOTE: This recall affects vehicles fitted with any of the following Ford Accessory part numbers: VF3LZ-1522404-A, VF3LZ-1522404-B, VF3LZ-1522468-A, VF3LZ-1522468-B
What is the risk?	A door handle fitted with the Ford Accessory chrome exterior door handle cover could unlatch during a side impact, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.
What will Ford and your dealer do?	Ford Motor Company has authorized your dealer to inspect your vehicle and remove and discard the affected Ford Accessory chrome exterior door handle trim covers, if required, free of charge. Dealers are also authorized to refund vehicle owners for the purchase price or MSRP of the Ford Accessory exterior chrome door handle trim cover kit once the covers have been discarded.
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.
What should you do?	Please call your dealer without delay and request a service date for Recall 17C09. Provide the dealer with your VIN, which can be accessed on your vehicle registration or proof of insurance. Even if you feel your vehicle is not affected by this Recall, you are still requested to contact your dealer for a service appointment. 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 recall completed on your vehicle. 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.
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). MOTORHOME OWNERS: If you have questions or concerns, please contact our Motorhome Customer Assistance Center toll free at 1-866-906-9811. Representatives are available 24 hours a day. 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-331.
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.