The NHTSA’s preliminary evaluation is looking to determine the scope and severity of the potential problem
45 minutes ago
- Nearly 36,000 Ford Flex SUVs are under federal investigation for trim failures.
- Reports claim B-pillar trim pieces can detach at highway speeds without warning.
- One incident allegedly involved a detached trim hitting another vehicle on the road.
Nobody wants to see pieces flying off their car, but according to five owners of 2019 Ford Flex models in the US, that’s exactly what can happen. The complaints have drawn the attention of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which has launched an investigation through its Office of Defects Investigation (ODI).
Read: There’s No Stopping Ford’s Recall Machine
Reports describe the B-pillar trim on certain Ford Flex models coming loose and detaching without warning, sometimes at highway speeds. Beyond the inconvenience for the driver, a piece of trim striking another vehicle could create a safety hazard and raise the risk of a collision.
Documented incidents
According to the ODI’s report, one complaint alleged that the B-pillar trim of a Flex had hit a vehicle that was trailing it on the road. The government agency is also aware of B-pillar trim-related complaints on 2016-2018 Ford Flex models, but notes this investigation only focuses on the 2019 models, as the “rate of allegations is much higher.”
The NHTSA says that it will set out to determine the scope and severity of the potential problem through this preliminary evaluation. It will also use 2016-2018 Flex vehicles in the analysis to understand any similarities or differences that could account for why the rates of issues vary between these model years.
There are an estimated 35,950 Ford Flexes from the 2019 model year in the US impacted by the ODI’s probe.
Related recalls
Ford issued a recall for 2016-2017 Explorers over a similar issue in June. According to the company, the driver and front passenger B-pillar door trim can detach while driving. Almost 400,000 vehicles across the country are involved in this particular recall.
