There's a number of TSBs, but it doesn't mean a problem is widespread, I'd agree. There's the recall (which is not supposed to be included in the rating, unless the user taking the survey doesn't read very plain directions) and then there's a customer satisfaction program in the 1.5L BS models (22N18) for which 15 years/150K miles there's a one time replacement if a fuel injector cracks after the "field service action" (recall) is done... Ford basically pitched the CS was for confidence and that the failure rate over that entire CS program was expected to be less than 0.4% of owners. While time will tell if Ford's correct, I haven't heard a ton of accounts of cracked fuel injectors post recall. However, not every single owner with an issue is going to post about it on a forum or social media.The only issue related to 1.5L fuel injectors is the recall to reroute fuel should one leak. I'm not aware of any other widespread issues regarding the fuel systems on those engines. Does anyone know of any?
If I'm right, then it appears a lot of people taking the survey are ignoring the directions to NOT include maintenance issues requiring shop visits related to recalls.
CR does also not break out problems within the category, so for fuel we must take it for everything that rating covers:
Sensors (O₂, or oxygen, sensor), emission-control devices (includes EGR), fuel-injection system, fuel gauge/sender, fuel pump, problems filling up the tank.
How widespread the fuel injector problems are is not known, other than the recall mention it doesn't seem common.
2021 - 2022 BS had issues with the fuel filler pipe being slow/splashing back and was redesigned, TSB for owners of affected models who complained
2021-2022 BS had issues with fuel tank heat shield causing grinding noise, not sure if CR would classify this as a fuel issue however.
One I did hear about was for those of us in emissions testing states, that there were issues of mechanics being unable to perform emissions inspections. For a variety of reasons (especially convenience), even people in warranty don't always go to the dealer for safety & emissions inspections. SSM 50974 covers an issue for emissions inspections that required a gateway module update by the dealer to rectify. That's lumped in with the entire "fuel system". Some 1.5L BS also have catalytic converter issues.
Going back to emissions, if we assume that users on the CR survey are not reading directions properly and are listing recall/field service action items as "problems" that factor in reliability, then the fuel system/emissions category is a double whammy: you have the fuel injector fire risk recall on the 1.5Ls, and you have Ford mailing a corrected emissions label on the 2.0L as potential sources of unwanted negative data.
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