Ford Motor Company Recalls Police Cars, Ambulances, Hearses, More Than 200,000 Ford Explorer SUVs

Ford Motor Company announced Wednesday it is recalling more than 200,000 Ford Explorer SUVs from the 2011 to 2013 model years to fix a problem that could cause the doors to fly open in side impacts, increasing the risk of injury. The announcement was part of three recall campaigns that include police vehicles, ambulances, hearses and limousines.

“No accidents or injuries are attributed to these conditions,” the company said in a statement.

The recall largely encompasses 213,911 Explorers, including SUVs sold to customers and ones modified for use by police departments. A spring that controls the interior door handles can unseat, which increases the chance of injury to drivers or passengers because the doors could fly open during side impact collisions. Ford said more than 18,000 of the vehicles are in Canada and Mexico.

Earlier this year Ford recalled nearly 195,000 Ford Taurus sedans (model years 2010 to 2013) and Lincoln MKS luxury cars (model years 2011 to 2013) for the same problem. Automakers often add more vehicles to recalls after a specific problem is identified when they discover the same components were used in different models.

The two other recalls cover a few thousand Ford ambulances and Lincolns used as hearses and limos.

Nearly 6,500 F-Series Super Duty ambulances with 6.7 liter diesel engines were called back to fix exhaust gas temperature sensors that may not function properly, causing the vehicle to incorrectly identify a high temperature reading. The company said 150 of the vehicles are in Canada or Mexico.

“The company is taking this action because of the unique nature of ambulance and emergency vehicles,” Ford said in a statement.

The third recall covers 1,725 Lincoln MKT hearses and limos that have a faulty vacuum pump relay that could result in a fire beneath the hood.

Check Your Ford (or Lincoln)

Click here for Ford’s recall search database using your vehicle identification number. Here are this year's other Ford Motor Company (Ford and Lincoln) U.S. auto safety recalls since the start of the year through March 24:

-- Nearly 195,000 Ford Taurus sedans (model years 2010 to 2013) and Lincoln MKS luxury cars (model years 2011 to 2013) for the same issue as the recall of Ford Explorer and Police Interceptors announced by Ford on Wednesday: interior door handle springs that may unseat, increasing the risk of the door unlatching in accidents and increasing the risk of personal injury.

-- More than 16,000 2014 Ford Transit Connect vans to tighten the bolts to the seat belt anchorages that could loosen over time, posing a risk that the belts will fail in the event of an accident.

-- More than 9,000 2014 Ford Escape SUVs and 2015 Lincoln MKC luxury crossovers for a possible fuel pump failure than can lead to an unexpected engine stall, increasing chances of an accident.

-- More than 11,000 2015 Lincoln MKC luxury crossovers to relocate the position of the button used to start and stop the engine. The location of the button increases the risk a driver could accidentally shut the engine off, disabling air bags and seat belt restraints, increasing the risk of cash and injury.

-- A small number (122) of heavy-duty F-Series pickup trucks (F-450, F-550 series) have been recalled since the start of the year to fix suspension fluid leaks, oil leaks or a problem with wheelchair lifts made by a different company.

Click here for a previously published list of Honda U.S. auto safety recalls from Jan. 1 to March 19 or click here for Honda’s recall database.

Click here for a previously published list of Toyota U.S. auto safety recalls from Jan. 1 to March 5 or click here for Toyota’s recall database.

Click here for a previously published list of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) U.S. auto safety recalls from Jan. 1 to March 5 or click here for FCA's recall database.