2014 Ford Escape Recall: Seats (NHTSA 14V164000)

NHTSA (the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) issued a recall affecting 2014 Ford Escape vehicles manufactured by Ford Motor Company. Below is the official summary, the risk involved, and the fix available at no cost.

Table of contents
  1. What does the official notice say?
  2. Risk if left unaddressed
  3. Manufacturer's fix (remedy)
  4. Additional notes
  5. How to check if your vehicle is affected
  6. Frequently asked questions

What does the official notice say?

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Ford Fusion and Lincoln MKZ vehicles manufactured August 15, 2012, through September 10, 2013, 2013-2014 Ford Escape vehicles manufactured June 5, 2012, through August 12, 2013, and 2013-2014 Ford C-Max vehicles manufactured from July 23, 2012, through May 28, 2013. The driver and passenger seatback assemblies may have been produced with sub-standard weld joints used to attach the seat back recliner mechanism to the seat frame. The affected seat backs may have insufficient strength to meet the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 207, "Seating Systems."

Risk if left unaddressed

The back of the subject seats may become loose or lean while driving and potentially increase the risk of injury in certain crashes.

Manufacturer's fix (remedy)

Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the seatback, free of charge. The recall began on May 30, 2014. Owners may contact Ford at 1-800-392-3673. Ford's number for this recall is 14C03.

Additional 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.

How to check if your vehicle is affected

Enter your Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) in the official NHTSA lookup tool at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm whether your specific vehicle is included in this campaign (number 14V164000).

Frequently asked questions

What is NHTSA recall 14V164000?

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Ford Fusion and Lincoln MKZ vehicles manufactured August 15, 2012, through September 10, 2013, 2013-2014 Ford Escape vehicles manufactured June 5, 2012, through August 12, 2013, and 2013-2014 Ford C-Max vehicles manufactured from July 23, 2012, through May 28, 2013. The driver and passenger seatback assemblies may have been produced with sub-standard weld joints used to attach the seat back recliner mechanism to the seat frame. The affected seat backs may have insufficient strength to meet the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 207, "Seating Systems."

What happens if this recall isn't fixed?

The back of the subject seats may become loose or lean while driving and potentially increase the risk of injury in certain crashes.

Is the repair free, and how do I check my VIN?

Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the seatback, free of charge. The recall began on May 30, 2014. Owners may contact Ford at 1-800-392-3673. Ford's number for this recall is 14C03. Enter your Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm whether your specific vehicle is included in campaign 14V164000.

Source: public NHTSA data, campaign 14V164000, reported on 02/04/2014. This content is for informational purposes only, does not constitute legal advice, and was compiled from official data with editorial review prior to publication.

Recall Radar

Recall Radar is the editorial team behind RecallRadar, tracking official NHTSA vehicle recalls and translating them into clear, practical guidance — what's affected, what's the risk, and how to get the free fix. Every post is compiled from public NHTSA data and reviewed before publishing.

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