Ford Airbag Recalls

Ford Motor Company has issue a safety recall on approximately 32,000 new model vehicles assembled at the Oakville Assembly Plant in Ontario, Canada, as well as the Flat Rock Assembly plant in Michigan.

It’s well know that Takata issued a vast airbag recall last year due to a faulty moisture absorbent desiccant that made the inflator liable to explode and expulse potentially fatal shrapnel. Fortunately, the current airbag recall is unrelated. Ford vehicles built at two particular assembly plants amidst a known date range have been recalled due to a slightly different and unrelated malfunction that causes the airbags to only partially inflate or detach from the their module, rendering them ineffective in serious accidents.

Affected vehicles include; 2016-2017 Ford Edges from Oakville assembled between October 8th, 2015- February 15th, 2017, 2016-17 Lincoln MKX vehicles from Oakville built between November 11th, 2014- February 15th, 2017, and 2017 Lincoln Continental vehicles built between January 13th, 2016- January 18th, 2017.

This is a slightly less fervid concern than recent past recalls, but is still pertinent for anyone driving one of said recalled vehicles. Ford isn’t currently aware of any accidents or injuries associated to the faulty airbags, but they will replace the airbag for free.

If you own one of the noted vehicles under speculation, it is important for your safety that you ensure your vehicle isn’t equipped with faulty airbags. You can easily schedule a service appointment with our Ford store here, or get more information on the latest recalls from Fords FAQ page.

Thanks for reading, dear drivers, and stay safe!

2017 Ford Explorer

The 2017 Ford Explorer has evolved quite a bit from its body on frame SUV roots into the modern crossover it is today. The versatility of the Explorer is one of its greatest strengths, along with plenty of high tech features, generous cargo space, a quiet and comfortable cabin, and an optional turbo charged engine. There are five trim levels to choose from, so the Explorer is very malleable in terms of ensuring the features you want and accommodations you need are incorporated.  The base model is efficiently equipped for comfortable day to day driving, while the platinum trim level may as well be a luxury sub class.

The Explorer isn’t the smallest SUV on the market, but it absolutely drives and handles just as well as its more compact competitors. Paired with generous cargo and passenger room, its evident that the designers envisioned a vehicle that could accommodate all walks of life. The sport model in particular features a 3.5 L v6 Eco boost engine and is paired with a nimble six speed transmission to deliver instantaneous power; going 0-60 in just 6.3 seconds. The Terrain Management System lets you shift on the fly into one of four settings; through mud, sand, gravel, grass or snow, so you can get through it and carry on with confidence and control. Other helpful upgrades include the Hill Descent Control that lets you set and maintain a constant speed while traveling downhill, and the all new Curve Control will slow you down as much as 10 mph in approximately one second when it senses that you’re going too fast for a particular curve.

The Explorer grants us exceptional handling and power, but there were no compromises made in regards to comfort. There are a plethora of soft to the touch materials and aesthetically pleasing designs in the interior. The comfort includes a 10 way power driver’s seat with power lumbar, heated steering wheel wrapped in leather, and heated and cooled front row seats. The Explorer offers some ultra-convenient technology features as well; such as The Hands-Free Foot-Activated lift gate that opens up with a quick little kick under the bumper, and the enhanced active park assist that utilizes 12 ultrasonic sensors for precise and easy parking.

The 2017 Explorer has quite a bit of uniqueness and offers plenty of features and technology. Overall, the explorer wins our favor with exceptional handling, unchanged power, and its vast versatility. 

Is your car ready for Winter?

 

1.  Check your battery.  Getting stranded in the cold with a dead battery is no one's idea of a good time.  If you have a maintenance-free battery, there should be a window on the top of the battery that tells you the state of it's charge.  If it's not, check the fluid levels, and top off with distilled water as necessary.  if you're not sure how to check your battery, most any auto parts store will be able to check it for you.

2.  Check your tires.  While a dead battery can leave you stranded, balding tires on snowy and icy roads can lead to a much more dangerous situation.  If you live in an area that gets a significant amount of snow, you may want to consider snow tires.

3.  Check your wiper blades.  Going cheap on your wiper blades or ignoring them can lead to very unpleasant driving in the winter.  Bad wipers can't do an adequate job of keeping the snow and ice off of your windshield, no matter how high you have the defrosters blasting.

4.  Check your fluids.  Check your owner's manual, but for most vehicles, the cooling system should be flushed every two years.  If your vehicle is overdue, prior to winter setting in is as good of a time as any to have it taken care of.  Also, refer to your owner's manual to find what type and what mixture of anti-freeze you should be using.  You will also want to keep your windshield washer fluid full, using a fluid that is designed for not freezing in the cold weather.  If you get stuck behind a truck throwing dirty snow at your windshield, you will be glad you did.  As always, change your oil regularly.

5.  Keep your vehicle supplied.  Normal emergency materials are key for the winter.  If you do get stranded on the road, you want other driver's to be able to see you.  Roadside flares are not excessive to keep on hand.  Keeping extra warm cloths, gloves, and a blanket or two are always good ideas as well.  Be sure to have lock de-icer on hand- and keep in mind that it doesn't always help to have it in the car.  Some in your house, and some at work are a great idea. 

6.  Care for the interior of your car.  In and out of the snow, ice, and salt can be particularly rough on your carpets.  Be sure to have at least an inexpensive set of floor mats for your car.  Better yet are the kind that can hold the water and keep it away from your carpets completely.

7.  Let your car warm up (and revving your engine doesn't really help).  Keep in mind, though, thieves are excellent at watching for cars that are running but unattended.  Have an extra door key that you keep on you and lock the doors while it is warming up, even if you are at home. 

8.  Be safe.  Allow extra time to get where you are going, leave plenty of space between you and the driver in front, and use good common sense.  It's better to arrive a few minutes late than not at all. 

 

The all-new 2016 Lincoln MKX

   Power Player. Discover the perfect combination of power, efficiency and quietness. The available 2.7L EcoBoost engine is ready for wherever the road takes you, delivering over 225 HP and 380 lb.-ft. of torque. In creating the engines, Lincoln's engineers not only improved the fuel economy, they also designed it to remarkably quiet. The result? A best in class EPA-estimated highway fuel economy of 26 mpg (city 17 mpg) from the quietest Lincoln MKX engine in the segment.


Shop our Lincoln inventory at www.gurleyleeplincoln.net or visit our showroom located at 320 E. Ireland Rd. South Bend, IN. 46614 where you can speak with a member of our Lincoln Certified Sales Team. We look forward to hearing from you.

Farm to Car: The Next Frontier in Sustainability

   See how Debbie Mielewski, Senior Technical Leader of Materials Sustainability at Ford, and her team of nerd rockstars is launching the Farm to Car movement, making materials from plant by-products, including soybeans, tomatoes, coconuts and more.
   Henry Ford himself once said, “I forsee when industry shall draw its raw material from the fields,” and initiated the first Ford sustainability efforts. Today, thanks in large part to Debbie’s team, every Ford vehicle in North America features seats formulated with soybean-based foam.

Shop our current Ford inventory at www.gurleyleepford.net or visit our showroom located at 320 E. Ireland Rd. South Bend, IN. 46614 where you can speak with a member of our Ford Certified Sales Team. We look forward to hearing from you.

Top 10 reasons the 2015 MKZ should be your next car

What’s New for 2015
   The MKZ was redesigned in 2013 to make it more reliable and comfortable while also improving fuel efficiency, and the company didn’t make many changes for 2015. In fact, this is one of the consistent complaints among reviewers. The complaints that people have had in the past regarding the infotainment center and substandard materials have not been changed.

2015 Lincoln MKZ

1. Better Fuel Economy
     Gas prices can rise and fall drastically based on the market and global events, so people who drive a lot of miles are always looking for better fuel efficiency. In this area, the MKZ delivers with an impressive 22 mpg city/ 33 mpg highway. This is on the regular base engine, and buyers can enjoy even better ratings depending on the final trim level and engine options they choose.

2. Reliability
   Most buyers have busy schedules, so they don’t have time to deal with repair appointments and trips back to the dealer. The MKZ functions as expected without requiring numerous trips to the service department so you can continue with your busy schedule without the hassle of making trips to the dealership.

3. Options for Everyone
   While the MKZ may not come loaded with standard features, buyers are able to customize a car based on their own unique needs and options. Features like advanced cruise control, rear sensors, numerous alerts and a rear-view camera help make the drive safer and more enjoyable. However, buyers can also keep the purchase price down if they aren’t interested in the extra features.

4. Power and Economy
   Modern drivers are looking for cars that can get up and go, and the MKZ fits the bill nicely. The MKZ comes with several options, including front- or all-wheel drive, a turbocharged 4-cylinder, a naturally aspirated V6 and a hybrid system. Reviewers report that all of these models deliver on power and economy, and many people report that they’re enjoyable to drive.

5. Spacious Interior
   Lincoln has a key innovation in the MKZ that’s missing in other vehicles, and that includes a push-button shifter that open up the center stack. In addition to creating a more spacious feel in between the driver and passenger, it also allows Lincoln to utilize a giant touchscreen that can be used by people who aren’t as comfortable with voice commands.

6. A Quiet Ride
   Drivers who are looking for a quiet ride find that the MKZ is one of the top options. Whether you spend several hours in the car every day or just want to enjoy a peaceful ride when you head out to run errands, the MKZ may be one of the top cars to consider.

7. Plenty of Cargo Space
   With 15.4 cubic feet of storage in the trunk, there’s plenty of room for picking up the weekly groceries or going on vacation. People love the roomy trunk in addition to the spacious cabin interior.

8. A Sharp Look
   The MKZ has a sharp exterior look that you may enjoy greatly. Rather than a boxy sedan of past decades, this car features gentle curves, rounded lines and smooth corners. The cabin has massive windows around all four sides, so it’s easier for everyone in the car to see outside and enjoy the view along the way.

9. Pleasant Drive
   Most reviewer share that the car is pleasurable to drive. While it may not handle like a BMW, it still handles corners nicely with responsive steering and a smooth, comfortable ride. It also features Bluetooth capability, USB ports, a Wi-Fi hot spot and 11-speaker audio system to make drives of all distances more enjoyable.

10. 5-Star Safety Rating
   The MKZ received an overall rating of five stars for safety. Standard features include air bags throughout the interior cabin, traction control, lane departure warnings, anti-lock brakes, daytime running lights and a blind spot monitor. These features can help even experienced drivers stay safe on the road.


If you want the Lincoln MKZ to be your next car, shop our inventory or visit our dealership located at 320 E. Ireland Rd. South Bend, IN. 46614 to speak with one of our Lincoln Certified Product Specialists. We look forward to helping you!

Ford SYNC 3 Technology

   When you upgrade to SYNC 3, you enjoy all the great SYNC features plus our next generation of voice activated technology. A new easy-to-use design, a new interface and new features. Not only is SYNC 3 responsive and innovative, it delivers next-level connectivity to your busy life.

While the 2016 Ford Escape is the only vehicle available with SYNC 3, we have so many more Ford models with great Ford technology.

   Along with Voice Recognition, SYNC appLink and Siri Seamless Integration, there are several other options that make Ford SYNC 3 great technology for your Ford. Click here to learn all about Ford SYNC 3. Also, shop our inventory for your next Ford model or come into our show room located at 320 E. Ireland Rd. South Bend, IN 46614 to speak with one of our Ford Product Specialists.