Ford warns 1.5 million Focus owners against running on empty

The 2012-18 Focus models may have a malfunctioning fuel canister purge valve that can get stuck in an open position.

Customers should maintain at least a half tank of fuel until the recall is completed. (Photo: Patrick T. Fallon/Bloomberg)

Ford Motor Co. is recalling about 1.5 million Focus models for a faulty fuel system, and it’s giving owners of the compact car an unusual admonition: Don’t run on empty until repairs are made.

Car may stall

The 2012-18 Focus models equipped with 2.0-liter GDI and 2.0-liter GTDI engines may have a malfunctioning canister purge valve that can get stuck in an open position, potentially causing the plastic gas tank to deform and leading the car to stall. Ford said in a statement that it’s not aware of any accidents, injuries or fires related to the defect.

Fix: Reprogram software

To fix the problem, Ford dealers will reprogram the software that controls the car’s powertrain. Customers should maintain at least a half tank of fuel until the recall is completed, the company said in the statement, without giving further explanation for that instruction.

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