— Ford is expanding a chrome door handle recall to include an additional 14,410 model year 2015-2017 F-150 and 2017 F-250, F-350, F-450 and F-550 trucks.
The original May 2017 recall involved about 550 trucks after the automaker learned the doors could unlatch and open in a side collision.
Ford says the trucks are manufactured with black handles or exterior door handles that match the body color, but Ford dealerships sell accessory kits that cover the original exterior handles with chrome covers.
Engineers discovered the chrome covers can cause the doors to unlatch in a side impact crash because the covers can't cope with the 30G inertial load requirements demanded by federal safety standards.
Although Ford knows the doors can unlatch, there have been no reports of crashes or injuries related to the door handle covers.
The chrome door handle cover recall will begin July 21, 2017, but the automaker won't be replacing the covers. Instead, truck owners will be reimbursed their money, and dealers will remove the covers permanently.
Owners of affected 2015-2017 F-150 and 2017 F-250, F-350, F-450 and F-550 trucks may contact Ford at 866-436-7332. Ford's number for the door handle cover recall is 17C09.
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