Ford announced Tuesday it would replace defective driveshaft couplings that were subject to an earlier 2017 recall. According to the company’s release, these flexible couplings were prone to crack, creating driveline noise and vibration. Continued driving after the coupling cracks could lead to driveshaft separation, increasing the risk of a serious crash.
At the moment, this new recall affects over 319,000 Transit vans built between 2014 and 2017. Per the company’s statement, the campaign covers the following Transits built at Kansas City Assembly between January 17, 2014 and June 15, 2017:
- 293,558 vehicles in the U.S.
- 22,960 vehicles in Canada
- 2,744 vehicles in Mexico
Ford says Transits these couplings should not deteriorate enough to detach the driveline before 40,000 miles. However, dealers will stage an interim repair and replace the driveshaft coupling every 40,000 miles until a final repair is available and completed. Once permanent repair parts are ready, Ford dealers will install driveshaft front sections with mechanical U-joints to replace the flexible couplings.
Ford’s reference number for the recall is 19S38. The company said it was not aware of any accidents or injuries related to the Transit’s driveline coupling issue.
The recall does not affect later-model Transits, nor will it affect the all-wheel drive 2020 Transit, shown below:
