Ford recalls 2 million pickups due to fire risk

By Ovunc Kutlu

NEW YORK

Ford announced Thursday it is recalling 2 million pickup trucks due to a fire risk.

“[An] investigation found that some front seat belt pretensioners can generate excessive sparks when they deploy," the company said in a statement.

Ford said there are 17 reports of smoke or fire in the U.S., and six in Canada, and added the it is not aware of any accidents or injuries because of this condition.

There are 340,000 vehicles in Canada and 36,000 in Mexico affected by the recall, according to the statement.

The recall affects the F-150 pickup, Ford's best-selling model in the U.S., which were built in the company's Dearborn, Michigan, and Kansas City, Missouri, assembly plants from March 2014 through August 2018.

The company said all repairs will be provided at no cost to its customers.

Ford stock price fell 0.6 percent to as low as $9.43 a share in the New York Stock Exchange on Thursday, after it closed Wednesday at $9.49 per share.

The company’s shares are down 24.5 percent since the beginning of the year.