What Happens When An Automaker Recalls A Police Car?

A nationwide recall of more than 7,000 2014 and 2015 Ford Police Interceptor SUVs has prompted Southern California law enforcement agencies to take precautions, inspecting same-year models in their fleets for safety and making repairs if necessary. At least one accident and one injury have occurred related to the problem that sparked the recall, according to Ford Motor Co.’s recall notice.

A majority of law enforcement agencies across the country began transitioning to the Police Interceptor SUVs two years ago after Ford retired the Crown Victoria, the longtime signature patrol vehicle for law enforcement.

The recall, announced April 27, covers all 2014 and 2015 Police Interceptor SUVs built at Ford’s Chicago assembly plant from January 21, 2014, through May 13, 2014, said Elizabeth Weigandt, Safety Communications Manager for Ford Motor Co. Poor welding of the left and right rear suspension toe links could cause them to fracture, resulting in rear suspension noise, difficulty steering or loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.

Weigandt said the recall affects 7,675 Interceptors nationwide but could not say how many law enforcement agencies received recall notices.

While representatives from most of the law enforcement agencies contacted for this report said they have not received recall notices, they are having their vehicles inspected for safety nonetheless. The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department is garaging all 58 of its 2014 and 2015 Interceptors until they are inspected by a qualified Ford mechanic to ensure they are safe. One sheriff’s deputy, speaking on condition of anonymity, said some deputies have been assigned old Crown Victorias that were taken out of service after 100,000 miles and stripped of their radios, shotgun racks and wire mesh screens, per department policy.