Ford Motor Company is recalling 2.9 million vehicles that may shift into different gears than intended or roll away while parked, the third major recall for the automaker this month.
A damaged or missing bushing may prevent the vehicle from shifting into the intended gear, and cause the vehicle to move in an unexpected direction," the NHTSA said in their report.
The problem stems from a high voltage battery main contactor that can overheat and either remain stuck open or weld closed following the use of a DC fast charger or repeated wide open accelerator pedal events.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says in documents posted on its website Wednesday that a bushing that attaches the shifter cable to the transmission can degrade or detach.
the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said in a statement. "Additionally, the vehicle may roll after the driver selects the 'Park' position.
Among the problems, the transmission on the affected Ford (F) cars and SUVs may not be in the park position, even though the shifter position indicates that the vehicle was shifted to park.
Fixing the problem is relatively straightforward. Owners will take their vehicles to their local dealership, and technicians will replace the affected bushing with an improved version that is better engineered to withstand heat.