Temporary Layoffs, Recalls at Ford's Louisville Facility

Cameron Aubernon
by Cameron Aubernon

The sun may shine bright upon my old Kentucky home, but that doesn’t mean things here can’t always be good. In the case of Ford, it’s not so good right now for the automaker’s efforts in Louisville.

First off, most of the 3,800 workers at Ford’s Kentucky Truck Plant have been laid-off temporarily until the end of this week due to a parts shortage for the Navigators, Expeditions and Super-Dutys screwed together there. The cause of the shortage appears to involve a fire at one of the plant’s part suppliers, and while UAW officials claim the part in question is a sensor, Ford officials are following company policy, not saying anything either way.

Of course, the fire doesn’t affect the Louisville Assembly Plant, but a major recall certainly does: Starting 23 July, Ford will recall nearly 8,300 Escapes — all made in Louisville — due to a very Toyota/Lexus-esque issue involving carpeting and braking. The affected CUVs were made from 8 March to 7 June of this year, if you happen to be one of the owners in question.

Speaking of that CUV, I leave you with the above photo of what used to be a large movieplex until it was finally demolished last year. The lot has played host to a few curious things since then, including housing some if not all of the 3,500 Escapes that could not escape the hailstorm in April. There were more a few weeks ago, but most of them have gone off somewhere. Maybe towards one of the auctions our Monsieur Lang visits?

Cameron Aubernon
Cameron Aubernon

Seattle-based writer, blogger, and photographer for many a publication. Born in Louisville. Raised in Kansas. Where I lay my head is home.

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  • Cheezeweggie Cheezeweggie on Jul 18, 2012

    There certainly isnt a fugly chromed plastic grille shortage.

  • Caboose Caboose on Jul 19, 2012

    Why y'll drinkin' tha Hater-Ade an' stuff? Why you gotta be all up in that truck's grille, Man? Ahem. Insurance companies LOVE that grille. The less paint exposed to stone chips and fender benders, the less likely to get damaged. The more plastic, and the less metal, the cheaper it is (for the insurance company - not for the owner) to have fixed. Bumpers are comparatively cheap: they are bolted on and inexpensive to replace. Unlike, say quarter-panels that wrap to the front end. So it's either this, or else a Lexus-esque plastic bumper that goes up to the windshield wipers.

  • Lorenzo Well, it was never an off-roader, much less a military vehicle, so let the people with too much money play make believe.
  • EBFlex The best gift would have been a huge bonfire of all the fak mustangs in inventory and shutting down the factory that makes them.Heck, nobody would even have to risk life and limb starting the fire, just park em close together and wait for the super environmentally friendly EV fire to commence.
  • Varezhka Of all the countries to complain about WTO rules violation, especially that related to battery business…
  • Carson D At 1:24 AM, the voyage data recorder (VDR) stopped recording the vessel’s system data, but it was able to continue taping audio. At 1:26 AM, the VDR resumed recording vessel system data. Three minutes later, the Dali collided with the bridge. Nothing suspicious at all. Let's go get some booster shots!
  • Darren Mertz Where's the heater control? Where's the Radio control? Where the bloody speedometer?? In a menu I suppose. How safe is that??? Volvo....
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