DEARBORN, Mich. — Ford announced a recall Wednesday for more than 270,000 Fusion vehicles over risks that they could roll away without warning.
The recalled cars include 2013-16 Fusions with 2.5-liter engines that were built in Flat Rock, Michigan, from April 12, 2013, to Feb. 29, 2016, and Hermosillo, Mexico, from Feb. 9, 2012 to April 4, 2016, the automaker said in a news release. Nearly 260,000 of the affected vehicles are in the U.S., 10,282 in Canada and 3,765 in Mexico.
In those cars, "the bushing that attaches the shifter cable may degrade and detach from the transmission," meaning that the car could be in a different gear than shown on the gearshift, the company said.
"The condition could allow the driver to move the shift lever to park and remove the ignition key while the transmission may not be in park, with no warning message or audible chime," the news release said. "If the parking brake is not applied, a shifter cable that detaches from the transmission could result in unintended vehicle movement, increasing the risk of injury or crash."
The company said it knows of one injury and three instances of property damage that may be related to the recalled vehicles.
"The root cause and final service repair are in the process of being confirmed," the automaker said. "Dealers and vehicle owners will be instructed to always use the parking brake, and they will be notified when the final remedy is available."