Safety Recall 14S21 - Restraints Control Module Replacement (14S21)
Reference number: 14S21
SAFETY RECALL 14S21 - RESTRAINTS CONTROL MODULE REPLACEMENT
SERVICE CAMPAIGN BULLETIN
| FORD: | 2013-2014 C-MAX, Escape, Fusion |
| LINCOLN: | 2013-2014 MKZ |
SAFETY RECALL 14S21
SUBJECT
DEMONSTRATION/DELIVERY HOLD - Safety Recall 14S21 - Supplement #2
Certain 2013-2014 Model Year C-MAX, Escape, Fusion, and MKZ Vehicles
Restraints Control Module Replacement
REF
DEMONSTRATION/DELIVERY HOLD - Safety Recall 14S04 - Supplement #1
Certain 2013-2014 Model Year C-MAX and Escape Vehicles
Reprogram Restraints Control Module
REASON FOR THIS SUPPLEMENT
- Parts for all affected vehicles are now available in sufficient quantities to complete repairs, regardless of whether the airbag warning light is illuminated.
- Parts for all affected vehicles are available through normal ordering.
AFFECTED VEHICLES
| Vehicle | Model Year | Assembly Plant | Build Date Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| C-MAX | 2013-2014 | Michigan | January 19, 2012 through November 21, 2013 |
| Escape | 2013-2014 | Louisville | October 5, 2011 through November 1, 2013 |
| Fusion | 2013-2014 | Hermosillo | February 3, 2012 through August 24, 2013 |
| MKZ | 2013-2014 | Hermosillo | April 25, 2012 through September 30, 2013 |
Affected vehicles are identified in OASIS. In addition, for a list of vehicles assigned to your dealership, visit https://web.fsavinlists.dealerconnection.com . This information will be available September 25, 2014.
REASON FOR THIS SAFETY RECALL
In all of the affected vehicles, the circuit board in the Restraints Control Module (RCM) may develop a short circuit over time. If a short circuit occurs, the airbag warning indicator will illuminate. In addition, deployable restraint systems (e.g., airbags, pretensioners, side curtains) and other systems that use data from the RCM (e.g., stability control) may not function, increasing the risk of injury.
SERVICE ACTION
For all affected vehicles, dealers are to replace the RCM.
This service must be performed on all affected vehicles at no charge to the vehicle owner.
OWNER NOTIFICATION MAILING SCHEDULE
- All owners were notified in 2014 of this safety recall and advised to wait until further notification before seeking service, unless the airbag warning indicator in their vehicle was illuminated.
- MKZ owners were notified the week of June 1, 2015 to have their RCM replaced regardless of the airbag warning indicator status.
- C-MAX, Escape and Fusion owners will be notified in separate mailings beginning August 31, 2015 to have their RCM replaced regardless of the airbag warning indicator status. 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 $7,000 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
- Attachment IV: Dealer Q & A
- Owner Notification Letter
- Recall Reimbursement Plan
QUESTIONS & ASSISTANCE
- Special Service Support Center (Dealer Assistance Only) ... 1-800-325-5621
- Special Service Support Center (Parts Ordering) ... 1-800-207-2444
ATTACHMENT I
DEMONSTRATION/DELIVERY HOLD - Safety Recall 14S21 - Supplement #2
Certain 2013-2014 Model Year C-MAX, Escape, Fusion, and MKZ Vehicles
Restraints Control Module Replacement
OASIS ACTIVATED?
Yes, OASIS will be activated on September 25, 2014.
FSA VIN LIST ACTIVATED?
Yes, FSA VIN list will be available through https://web.fsavinlists.dealerconnection.com on September 25, 2014. Owner names and addresses will be available in the third quarter of 2015.
Accordingly, you must limit the use of this listing to the follow-up necessary to complete this recall.
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.
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 that are brought to your dealership.
TITLE BRANDED/SALVAGED VEHICLES
Affected title branded and salvaged vehicles are eligible for this recall.
ADDITIONAL LABOR TIME AND/OR PARTS
Contact the Special Service Support Center (SSSC) if you have any of the following:
- Damage that you believe was caused by the covered condition.
- A condition that requires additional labor and/or parts to complete the repair.
- Aftermarket equipment or non-Ford modifications to the vehicle which might prevent the repair of the covered condition.
Contact the SSSC prior to the repair. Please be prepared to provide your requested additional warranty part cost, estimated additional labor time, and dealer specific labor rate. Requests for approval after completion of the repair may not be granted. Ford Motor Company reserves the right to deny coverage for related damage in cases where the vehicle owner has not had this recall performed on a timely basis. Additional related damage parts are subject to random selection for return to the Ford Warranty Parts Analysis Center (WPAC).
OWNER REFUNDS
- This safety recall must still be performed, even if the owner has paid for a previous repair. Claiming a refund will not close the recall on the vehicle.
- Ford Motor Company is offering a refund for owner-paid repairs covered by this recall if the repair was performed prior to the date indicated in the reimbursement plan, which is posted with this bulletin. Owners are directed to seek reimbursement through authorized dealers or, at their option, directly through Ford Motor Company at P.O. Box 6251, Dearborn, MI 48121-6251.
- Dealers are also pre-approved to refund owner-paid emergency repairs that were performed away from an authorized servicing dealer after the end date specified in the reimbursement plan. 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 replacement of the RCM.
RENTAL VEHICLES
Ford Motor Company will pay for up to two days of vehicle rental. Follow Extended Service Plan (ESP) guidelines for dollar amounts. The daily rate can include applicable taxes but must not exceed the stated daily rate. Rentals will only be reimbursed for the day(s) the vehicle is at the dealership for part replacement. Prior approval for more than two rental days is required from the Special Service Support Center (1-800-325-5621).
LINCOLN CLIENT SPECIAL HANDLING (Applies to sold vehicles only)
To "surprise & delight" Lincoln Owners; Lincoln Dealers are authorized to provide the following services to MKZ owners under Safety Recall 14S21 up to a maximum combined value of $100.
- Lincoln Service Loaner (If more than the two days authorized for all vehicles above is required)
- Fuel Fill
- Vehicle Pick-up and Delivery
This program is exclusive to Lincoln Dealers. Ford Stand-alone Dealerships servicing Lincoln Owners are not authorized to claim the special handling allowance. Owners will not be notified of this service in owner mailings.
CLAIMS PREPARATION AND SUBMISSION
- Enter claims using Direct Warranty Entry (DWE).
- Refer to ACESII manual for claims preparation and submission information.
- Additional labor and/or parts must be claimed as related damage on a repair line that is separate from the repair line on which the FSA is claimed. Additional labor and/or parts require prior approval from the Special Service Support Center.
- Submit refunds on a separate repair line.
- - Program Code: 14S21
- - Misc. Expense: REFUND
- - Misc. Expense: ADMIN
- - Misc. Expense: 0.2 Hrs.
- Multiple refunds should be submitted on one repair line and the invoice details for each repair should be detailed in the comments section of the claim.
- 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".
- For Lincoln Client Special Handling (sold vehicles only), claim up to a maximum combined value of $100 without rental and $190 if rental transportation was provided. All Special Handling claims must be on the same repair line.
- Rental:
- - Misc. Expense Code: RENTAL
- - Misc. Expense Amount: Total amount
- Fuel Fill:
- - Misc. Expense Code: FUEL
- - Misc. Expense Amount: Total amount
- Vehicle Pick-up and Delivery:
- - Misc. Expense Code: LCHP
- - Misc. Expense Amount: Total amount
NOTE: Maintain supporting documentation for all Miscellaneous Expenses according to procedure as identified in the Warranty and Policy Manual.NOTE: If applicable, the Ford system will automatically close Safety Recall 14S04 upon claim payment of 14S21. - Rental:
ATTACHMENT II
DEMONSTRATION/DELIVERY HOLD - Safety Recall 14S21 - Supplement #2
Certain 2013-2014 Model Year C-MAX, Escape, Fusion, and MKZ Vehicles
Restraints Control Module Replacement
LABOR ALLOWANCES
| Description | Labor Operation | Labor Time |
|---|---|---|
| C-MAX/Escape - Replace RCM | 14S21B | 1.7 Hours |
| Fusion - Replace RCM | 1.1 Hours | |
| MKZ - Replace RCM | 1.6 Hours |
PARTS REQUIREMENTS/ORDERING INFORMATION
| Part Number | Description | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| DM5Z-14B321-P | C-MAX Restraints Control Module | 1 |
| CJ5Z-14B321-C | Escape Restraints Control Module | 1 |
| DS7Z-14B321-B | Fusion Restraints Control Module | 1 |
| DP5Z-14B321-B | MKZ Restraints Control Module | 1 |
The DOR/COR number for this recall is 50560.
Questions regarding parts should be directed to the Special Service Support Center Parts Order Line (1-800-207-2444) or E-mailed to: Ford@Renkim.com .
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
SAFETY RECALL 14S21 -S2
CERTAIN 2013 THROUGH 2014 MODEL YEAR C-MAX, ESCAPE, FUSION, AND MKZ VEHICLES - RESTRAINTS CONTROL MODULE REPLACEMENT
SERVICE PROCEDURE
- Replace the RCM. For additional information, refer to Workshop Manual (WSM) Section 501-20B.
ATTACHMENT IV
DEMONSTRATION/DELIVERY HOLD - Safety Recall 14S21 - Supplement #2
Certain 2013-2014 Model Year C-MAX, Escape, Fusion, and MKZ Vehicles
Restraints Control Module Replacement
DEALER Q & A
Q1. What is the issue?
- In the affected vehicles, the restraints control module (RCM) may experience a short circuit. If a short circuit occurs the airbag warning indicator will illuminate. Depending on the location of the short circuit, the deployable restraint systems (e.g., airbags, pretensioners, side curtains) may not function as intended in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury. The short circuit may also affect the function of other systems that use data from the RCM, including stability control. In these cases, the corresponding warning indicator lamps would also illuminate.
Q2. Are there any symptoms that the customer might notice that could indicate they may have an issue?
- When a short circuit occurs, the airbag warning indicator will illuminate. If any additional vehicle systems are affected by this short circuit, the corresponding warning indicator lamps will illuminate. If a customer experiences an illuminated warning lamp, they should contact their local dealership for service.
Q3. Weren't some of these vehicles already recalled for this issue?
- Safety Recall 14S04
was undertaken to address a software concern that may cause delayed deployment of the safety canopy in certain roll-over circumstances.
Subsequently, Ford has also identified the circuit board in the RCM may develop a short circuit over time. The installation of a new RCM will address both the software and circuit board concerns.
Q4. If the RCM is replaced under Safety Recall 14S21 do we still need to perform Safety Recall 14S04 ?
- No. Because the new RCM contains the updated software, owners no longer need to have Safety Recall 14S04 performed. The Ford system will automatically close Safety Recall 14S04 upon claim payment of 14S21.
Q5. Do you have an estimate of when the parts will be available?
- For all affected vehicles, parts are now available in sufficient quantities to complete repairs, regardless of whether the airbag warning light is illuminated.
Q6. If parts are not available, will you be providing customers with rental vehicles?
- Yes, customers with vehicles that have an airbag warning indicator on will be provided a rental vehicle if parts are not available at the time of repair.
Q7. If the customer previously had the RCM replaced, are they still affected by this recall notice?
- The dealership should always check OASIS to confirm vehicle eligibility in a specific recall.
OWNER NOTIFICATION LETTER
RECALL REIMBURSEMENT
Ford Motor Company Recall Reimbursement Plan for 14S21
Ford and Lincoln dealers are in the best position to quickly and efficiently process reimbursement requests. However, federal legislation requires all motor vehicle manufacturers to establish processes through which customers may seek recall reimbursement directly from the manufacturer or from the dealers.
Regarding the specific reimbursement plan for Recall # 14S21, owners who have paid for service to remedy the defect or noncompliance must have had that service performed prior to November 30, 2014. After this date, if repairs related to this recall are performed by a non-Ford repair facility in an emergency situation, customers must submit any refund requests through their dealership. As required by this federal regulation, Ford Motor Company submitted the details of its latest General Recall Reimbursement Plan in a letter to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in February 2009. The following is the text of that letter and the Plan:
General Recall Reimbursement Plan (As submitted to the NHTSA)
Pursuant to the requirements set forth in 49 CFR Part 573 and Part 577 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Ford Motor Company (Ford) is submitting required information pertaining to our general reimbursement plan for the cost of remedies paid for by vehicle owners before they are notified of a related safety recall.
Set forth below is Ford's general plan to reimburse owners and purchasers for costs incurred for remedies in advance of notification of potential safely-related defects or noncompliances pursuant to Part 573.6 (c)(8)(i). This plan has not changed since our February 28, 2007 submission.
Reimbursement Notification
Ford's notice to a vehicle owner in accordance with 49 CFR Part 577 will indicate that Ford is offering a refund if the owner paid to have service to remedy the defect or noncompliance prior to a specified ending date. In accordance with Part 573.13 (c)(2), this ending date will be defined as a minimum of ten calendar days after the date on which Ford mailed the last of its Part 577 notifications to owners, and will be indicated in the specific reimbursement plan available to owners for an individual recall. This notice will direct owners to seek eligible reimbursement through authorized dealers or, at their option, directly through Ford at the following address:
- Ford Motor Company
- P.O. Box 6251
- Dearborn, MI 48121-6251
Ford notes that this rule allows for the identification of a beginning date for reimbursement eligibility. Under the rule, an owner who paid to remedy the defect or noncompliance prior to the identified beginning date would not be eligible for reimbursement. Ford generally has not established such a beginning date for reimbursement eligibility and does not presently anticipate changing this general policy. However, in any case where Ford determines a beginning date is appropriate, Ford will indicate that date in the owner notice. As permitted by 577.11(e), Ford may not include a reimbursement notification when all vehicles are well within the warranty period, subject to approval by the agency.
Costs to be Reimbursed
For vehicles, reimbursement will not be less than the lesser of:
- The amount paid by the owner for the remedy that specifically addressed and was reasonably necessary to correct the defect or noncompliance that is the subject of the recall, or
- The cost of parts for the remedy (to be no more than the manufacturer's list retail price for authorized part(s), plus associated labor at local labor rates, miscellaneous fees (such as disposal of waste) and taxes.
For replacement equipment, reimbursement will be the amount paid by the owner for the replacement item (limited by the amount of the retail list price of the defective or noncompliant item that was replaced, plus taxes, where the brand or model purchased by the owner was different than the brand or model that was the subject of the recall). If the item of motor vehicle equipment was repaired, the reimbursement provisions identified above for vehicles will apply.
Ford notes that costs incurred by the owner within the period during which Ford's original or extended warranty would have provided for a free repair of the problem will not be eligible for reimbursement, as provided by Part 573.13 (d)(1).
Entities Authorized to Provide Reimbursement
Ford will continue to use authorized dealers to reimburse owners under the specific reimbursement plans for a particular recall, and will encourage owners to pursue requests for reimbursement directly through dealers to expedite reimbursement. Ford will also provide a mailing address to which customers can, at their option, send requests for reimbursement directly to Ford, as previously noted. Requests for reimbursement sent directly to Ford may take up to 60 days to process. Whether the owner chooses to pursue reimbursement requests through a dealer or directly through Ford, the owner will be directed to submit the required documentation, upon which reimbursement eligibility will be determined.
Required Documentation
The reimbursement determination will depend upon the information provided by the customer. Consistent with Part 573.13 (d)(4) the following information must be submitted:
- Claimant name and address
- Vehicle make, model, and model year
- Vehicle identification number (VIN) and, for replacement equipment, a description of such equipment or, for tires, the model, size and TIN (DOT code)
- Identification of the recall number (either the Ford recall number or the NHTSA recall number)
- Identification of the owner of the recalled vehicle at the time that the pre-notification remedy was obtained
- An original receipt for the pre-notification remedy that includes a breakdown of the amount for parts, labor, other costs and taxes, including costs for the replacement item. Where the receipt covers work other than to address the recall or noncompliance, Ford may require the claimant to separately identify costs that are eligible for reimbursement.
- If the remedy was obtained during the warranty period, documentation indicating that the warranty was not honored or the warranty repair did not correct the problem related to the recall.
Failure to submit all of the above information may result in denial of the reimbursement request.
Additional Information
The Part 577 required owner notice will provide a toll-free telephone number through which specific information about the reimbursement plan can be requested from Ford. This general reimbursement plan will be incorporated into notifications pursuant to Part 573.6 by reference. Information specific to an individual recall also may be incorporated into the Part 573.6 notification.