About 30,000 golf carts and buggies are being recalled because the steering wheel may be loose, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Ford is recalling almost 4,000 of its heavy-duty pickup trucks because they might go into reverse when the driver wants to move forward.
The cart recall covers the E-Z-GO, Cushman and Bad Boy Buggies models that were sold from August 2012 to February 2013 and were manufactured by the E-Z-GO Division of Textron, based in Augusta, Georgia.
The company said it was aware of one injury, a chipped tooth, after an out-of-control vehicle ran over a curb.
In a news release, the Consumer Product Safety Commission said the recalled models affected by the recall were E-Z-GO TXT Fleet golf carts; E-Z-GO Freedom TXT, Shuttle 2+2 TXT and Valor personal golf carts, all with one bench seat and one-rear-facing seat; E-Z-GO Express carts with two bench seats and one rear-facing seat; E-Z-GO Terrain carts with a cargo bed; Cushman Shuttle vehicles and Bad Boy Buggies HD, LD, LTO, and LT Safari utility vehicles.
Small, off-highway vehicles such as golf-carts are regulated by the Consumer Product Safety Commission, not the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which is responsible for cars and trucks.
The Ford recall covers 2015 F-250, F-350, F-450 and F-550 trucks equipped with 6.2 liter gasoline or 6.7 liter diesel V8 engines and 6-speed automatic transmissions.
In a report, Ford told N.H.T.S.A. that a software error could cause the transmission to stay in reverse when the driver shifts into drive, even though the indicator says the transmission is in drive. But Ford said this would happen for only “up to 1.5 seconds” before settling on the proper, forward gear.
Ford said it learned about the problem at the assembly plant and was not aware of any accidents or injuries to date. Ford described the recall as voluntary, although under federal regulations, once an automaker is aware of a safety problem, it must (within five business days) inform the safety agency of its plan for a recall or face a civil penalty. In its report to the agency, Ford also said it did not intend to issue a news release about the recall.
If you own one of the recalled vehicles and sustained injuries resulting from this recall, contact one of our Gavovino Lake attorneys at 1-800-246-HURT (4878).
