TSB: FORD ESCAPE, FUSION, FUSION ENERGI, FUSION HYBRID, MKZ, MKZ HYBRID (2013–2016)

Bulletin SSM 51181 — November 4, 2022

Bulletin Details

Bulletin IDSSM 51181
ManufacturerFORD
ModelsESCAPE, FUSION, FUSION ENERGI, FUSION HYBRID, MKZ, MKZ HYBRID
Model Years2013–2016
Date IssuedNovember 4, 2022
Date Added to NHTSANovember 29, 2022
ComponentBRAKES (PWS)
Vehicles Affected24 combinations

What is a TSB?

A Technical Service Bulletin is a document issued by the vehicle manufacturer to inform dealership technicians about a known issue and the recommended repair procedure. TSBs are not mandatory recalls — they serve as repair guidance for common problems.

If your vehicle has this issue, bring this bulletin ID to your dealer. If under warranty, the repair should be covered at no cost.

Summary

Some 2013-2016 Escape/Fusion/MKZ vehicles may display an error message when updating the All Wheel Drive-ATC Barcode using the IDS service function after installing a new rear drive unit assembly (RDU) or active torque coupling (ATC) clutch

Affected Vehicles

MakeModelYearComponent
FORD ESCAPE 2016 030000 BRAKES (PWS)
FORD FUSION 2016 030000 BRAKES (PWS)
FORD FUSION ENERGI 2016 030000 BRAKES (PWS)
FORD FUSION HYBRID 2016 030000 BRAKES (PWS)
LINCOLN MKZ 2016 030000 BRAKES (PWS)
LINCOLN MKZ HYBRID 2016 030000 BRAKES (PWS)
FORD ESCAPE 2015 030000 BRAKES (PWS)
FORD FUSION 2015 030000 BRAKES (PWS)
FORD FUSION ENERGI 2015 030000 BRAKES (PWS)
FORD FUSION HYBRID 2015 030000 BRAKES (PWS)
LINCOLN MKZ 2015 030000 BRAKES (PWS)
LINCOLN MKZ HYBRID 2015 030000 BRAKES (PWS)
FORD ESCAPE 2014 030000 BRAKES (PWS)
FORD FUSION 2014 030000 BRAKES (PWS)
FORD FUSION ENERGI 2014 030000 BRAKES (PWS)
FORD FUSION HYBRID 2014 030000 BRAKES (PWS)
LINCOLN MKZ 2014 030000 BRAKES (PWS)
LINCOLN MKZ HYBRID 2014 030000 BRAKES (PWS)
FORD ESCAPE 2013 030000 BRAKES (PWS)
FORD FUSION 2013 030000 BRAKES (PWS)
FORD FUSION ENERGI 2013 030000 BRAKES (PWS)
FORD FUSION HYBRID 2013 030000 BRAKES (PWS)
LINCOLN MKZ 2013 030000 BRAKES (PWS)
LINCOLN MKZ HYBRID 2013 030000 BRAKES (PWS)

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What Should You Do?

If your vehicle is affected by this TSB, contact your authorized FORD dealer. Bring this bulletin ID (SSM 51181) when you visit. If under warranty, the repair should be free. If your warranty has expired, ask about goodwill coverage — manufacturers sometimes cover TSB-related repairs beyond the warranty period.

Frequently Asked Questions

A recall is a mandatory safety fix — the manufacturer must repair every affected vehicle for free. A TSB is an advisory document that describes a known issue and the recommended fix, but repairs are not required. However, some TSBs eventually lead to recalls if the issue poses a safety risk. TSBs are generally issued for quality or performance problems, while recalls address safety defects.

If your vehicle is still under the manufacturer's warranty, TSB-related repairs are typically covered at no cost. If your warranty has expired, you can ask the dealer about goodwill or customer assistance programs. Many manufacturers will cover or partially cover repairs for well-known issues, especially if the TSB was issued recently or affects a large number of vehicles.

Check the make, model, and model year listed above against your vehicle. If they match, this bulletin likely applies. However, TSBs may only affect vehicles with specific production dates, VIN ranges, or configurations. Your dealer can confirm by entering your VIN into their service system, which will show all applicable TSBs and recalls.

This data comes from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Manufacturers are required to submit copies of all communications (including TSBs) sent to their dealers to NHTSA. The agency makes this data publicly available as part of its vehicle safety monitoring program.