U.S. auto safety regulators are investigating whether a New York Ford dealership complied with federal regulations requiring dealers not to deliver a new vehicle with an outstanding safety recall.
NHTSA reported they received information that alleged Healey Brothers Ford in Beacon, N.Y., sold a new vehicle, a 2021 Ford Escape, to a customer without performing required recall repairs.
The compact crossover was recalled in August for fuel delivery modules that may leak inside the fuel tank, potentially causing an engine stall. The recall affected nearly 14,000 Escape and Lincoln Corsair vehicles from the 2021 model year as well as the Bronco Sport from that model year.
The safety recall report indicates Ford notified dealers Aug. 11.
An NHTSA document reports the organization is investigating whether Ford complied with the requirements of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act, which requires manufacturers to notify their dealers of defects related to vehicle safety and noncompliance with federal regulations. It also is examining whether the dealer received that notice and failed to fix the recalled vehicle before selling it.
