Ford is also recalling 196,639 Taurus cars in cold-weather areas for a faulty license-plate lamp assembly
MICHIGAN—(ENEWSPF)—May 30, 2014. Ford Motor Co. (F) is recalling about 1.1 million sport-utility vehicles in North America, including the Escape and Explorer, to fix sensor and electronic flaws that could lead to the sudden loss of power steering while driving.
The second-biggest U.S. automaker said it needs to update software or replace torque sensors or steering columns on Escape and Mercury Mariner models from 2008 to 2011. An intermittent electrical connection also needs to be fixed on Ford Explorers from years 2011 to 2013, the company said in a statement today.
Separately, almost 280,000 additional cars are being called in for repairs related to license-plate lamps and floor mats.
Ford adds to the almost 23 million cars recalled in the U.S. this year, exceeding last year’s total and approaching the industry’s 31 million high mark set in 2004. General Motors Co. (GM) accounts for more than half the recalls this year, mostly because of an ignition-switch defect linked to 13 deaths.
Five crashes and six injuries have been reported to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration concerning the Escape and Mariner torque sensor, Kelli Felker, a spokeswoman for Dearborn, Michigan-based Ford, said in an e-mailed statement. Ford said 915,216 of the SUVs are being recalled in North America.
Taurus Recall
For the Explorer recall, Ford is aware of 15 low-speed accidents and two minor injuries associated with power-steering loss, Felker said. About 195,527 Explorers will need to either have their software updated or steering gear replaced, the company said.
Ford is also recalling 196,639 Taurus cars in cold-weather areas for a faulty license-plate lamp assembly in which corrosion from road salt can cause a short circuit, leading to fire. Eighteen fires and one injury have been reported, Ford said. That recall affects the 2010-2014 model years.
The final recall involves the 2006-2011 model year Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan, Lincoln Zephyr and Lincoln MKZ. The cars are being recalled to replace all-weather floor mats that can become stuck under the accelerator pedal. A total of 82,576 cars worldwide are covered.
Source: ford.com
