Update on the 1.5L drain hose recall from NHTSA.

[Carrillator]

The drain tube recall was to allow a route for fuel to drain away from hot engine components in the event of a fuel leak. It connects to a drain hole in the side of the engine near the top. If you are observing OIL coming from this tube you should have your car checked by a mechanic. You can also take a look at the top of the engine yourself to see where oil might be coming from. I can't think of how enough oil can get into this drain tube absent significant issues that warrant your immediate attention.

Alternatively, the drain tube you see oil draining from is not the same drain tube installed as part of the recall.

Thanks for your response Mark, it is the same drain tube installed due to the recall 22S73 and it is where the oil is dripping, this was in fact confirmed by the dealership technicians, it is actually a very little amount but the stain was built over several weeks, but maybe as you mention, there are other issues going on that is causing for the oil to be dripping through the drain. Anyone else had this issue after their BS recall?

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[Mark S.]

this was in fact confirmed by the dealership technicians,

Did you look for yourself? You should be able to see where the tube connects to the engine near the top. If there's enough oil coming from the tube there should be a serious leak on the top of the engine. It should be readily apparent where the oil is coming from.

 

[cprcubed]

No similar issues on mine that I've seen since the recall was performed. Any oil leaks on top of the engine or possible "dump" from an oil change/addition? Cheers!

 

[Mark S.]

...possible "dump" from an oil change/addition? Cheers!

That could definitely be a player. I'm not sure where the oil service port for the 1.5L is. Is it near the drain tube?

 

[Quashish]

That could definitely be a player. I'm not sure where the oil service port for the 1.5L is. Is it near the drain tube?

You mean the drain plug on the oil pan?

I'm suprized OP was able to see the leak on the ground. No felt underway? Or significant leak to bleed through?

 

[Mark S.]

You mean the drain plug on the oil pan?

I'm suprized OP was able to see the leak on the ground. No felt underway? Or significant leak to bleed through?

No, I mean someone getting sloppy when adding oil to the engine. The service port is on top of the engine, right? If enough gets slopped around it might drain out through the tube, especially when it gets hot.

 

[Dude]

I'm suprized OP was able to see the leak on the ground. No felt underway? Or significant leak to bleed through?

Good questions!!

 

[Quashish]

No, I mean someone getting sloppy when adding oil to the engine. The service port is on top of the engine, right? If enough gets slopped around it might drain out through the tube, especially when it gets hot.

Oh I see

 

[coopny]

So Ford did reply on this, there's a lot of documents on the NHTSA site. An interesting one is the iteration of the injector part. There's been four iterations, with versions 2 and 2.1 being used from the second half of October 2022 onward.

This document more comprehensively documents the history of both the 24S16 and 22S73 recalls, and Ford does make some particular admissions. Most key is that they understood that they could do a hardware recall (replace the injectors), or a software + drain tube recall. The drain tube was more readily able to be produced in a quick fashion, thus the software fix (called FMEM, to detect signs of leaking fuel injectors and go into limp mode) + the drain tube to drain any leaking fuel away from hot engine components.

Per the field service action 24S16, Ford did not include the software fix on the vehicles produced with versions 2/2.1 of the fuel injector part because Ford believed the injectors were more robust - only for vehicles to have cracked fuel injectors (and then underhood fires because neither the software fix to detect fuel leakage & go into limp mode nor the drain tube):

Ford’s decision not to include the updated engine control software on these vehicles was based on Ford’s assessment of the new injectors’ improved robustness. ​

Ford's rationale for not subjecting the vehicles to a recall that replaces the fuel injectors is that it's a rare condition, and that in over 600K vehicles with the FMEM software on it, there are 1,154 "potential" leaks and none of them have had confirmed underhood fires. When combined with the 150K/15 year customer satisfaction program to replace the injectors, Ford is saying the software fix + drain tube is effective enough, and that the vehicle systems relating to fuel are designed to last 15 years/150K without leaking generally.

What I buy:
I buy and agree that given the lead time to replace the fuel injectors vs. the software fix + drain tube, that it was a responsible move for Ford to promote that as the recall remedy. An apparently effective one in terms of having over 1,100 reports of cracked injectors post-recall but none of them resulting in underhood fires.

Where I shake my head:
Ford's rationale that they believed the revised injector part (1.1) meant that not implementing the drain tube and FMEM software fix in vehicles produced after October 17th, 2022 (where only the new fuel injector parts were used) was okay is optimistic at best and severely negligent at worst. Ford believed they had solved the problem in v1.1 of the injector, as they had believed Version 1 was adequately designed.

Ford full well knew that if V2 of the injector part failed that fuel could leak at a significant rate, and that without the drain tube it would still leak on hot engine areas leading to potential underhood fires. When they still had issues.

Ford also points out in other responses that they design vehicles to consider the possiblity of fuel leaks:
However, manufacturers incorporate design features to help ensure safety in the event of an unintentional fuel spill or leak. For example, Ford and other manufacturers utilize drain holes in fuel filler hardware that direct any spilled fuel to the ground in the event customers overfill their vehicles at gas stations. Fuel spillage during refueling is not expected to be a regular occurrence, just as fuel leakage from cracked injectors is not expected to be a regular occurrence, but in both cases, Ford is designing the product to help ensure safety.​

​

I find this hard to reconcile with them knowing that fuel can leak and leak in a hot area, and then only subject a portion of the vehicle population to having the drain tube + software detection to enter limp mode and reduce the fuel leakage rate.

IMO, the FMEM software and the drain tube should be in every 1.5L Bronco sport, and not just the subject population.

We'll see what the NHTSA has to say in some months I imagine.

 

[coopny]

We'll see what the NHTSA has to say in some months I imagine.

Recall 25S21 mandated the PCM software be applied to 21-23MY vehicles that had a prior flash that didn't work after this post (later March 2025).

25V467 (NHTSA number) now mandates a software fix for 21-24MHY model years and a later fix that isn't determined.

Owners will be notified by mail and instructed to take their vehicle to a Ford or Lincoln dealer to have their engine control software updated to include fuel injector leak detection as an interim remedy. There will be no charge for this service. Some owners may have already received this software update via the 22S73/22V859 or 24S16/24V187 or 25S1/25V165 remedies or their vehicle may have been produced with the update software. Ford will inform these owners that they will not require the interim service fix. The final remedy is under development. When the final remedy is available, owners will be notified by mail and instructed to take their vehicle to a Ford or Lincoln dealer to have the remedy performed. There will be no charge for this service.

Mailing of interim owner notification letters with interim remedy guidance is expected to begin August 18, 2025, and is expected to be completed by August 22, 2025. Mailing of remedy owner notification letters is not yet known as the remedy for this recall is still under development. The date VINs are planned to be searchable is July 15, 2025.

Thank god for NHTSA oversight...

 

[Carrillator]

Hi guys, I looked on top of the engine and there were no visible signs of oil leakage on top of it, I could only keep noticing the issue through the oil leak going through the tube. Took my car to the dealarship 2 times with failed results, but the third time seems that they really solved it, I was told it was a failing electrovalve that was letti g oil going through, this is what the engine looked like before getting it fixed (oil was getting through the valve), I am no mechanic, does this sound logic?

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