FORD MOTOR COMPANY RECALLSFord Motor Company 1995 Ford Mustang; Mercury Sable; Ford Taurus Number Involved: 695,260 Defect: On certain Taurus/Sable vehicles equipped with 3.0-liter and 3.8-liter engines and Mustang vehicles with 3.8-liter and 5.0-liter engines, it is possible for the engine cooling fan bearing to seize. Should this occur, excessive heat could be generated, which could melt the fan motor electrical connector. Components inside the cooling fan motor could ignite, potentially resulting in an underhood fire. Remedy: Dealers will inspect the engine cooling fan assembly and install a circuit breaker. If the cooling fan is inoperative, the fan and motor assembly will be replaced. The manufacturer has reported that owner notification was to begin during January 2002. Owners who do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact Ford at 1-866-436-7332. [NHTSA Recall No. 01V390/Ford Recall No. 01S30] Ford 2000-2001 Ford Focus Posted: April 3, 2002 NHTSA says it is investigating Ford Motor Co.'s subcompact Focus following reports of problems with its electrical and air bag systems. This preliminary examination is looking into consumer complaints of fires in the engine compartment, inappropriate deployment of air bags and rear-wheel bearing failures. In some cases, NHTSA says drivers reported suffering second- and third-degree burns on their hands and arms where the air bag deployment resulted in burn injuries or a vehicle fire. In others, motorists complained that the car's air bags deployed during "very low speed" crashes and that, in some cases, where there was no vehicle impact at all. Investigators are looking at wheel bearing failures -- a problem which Ford has previously identified and sought to remedy in some 2000- and 2001-model-year Focuses by way of a recall. The NHTSA complaints involve cars that were either not covered by the recall or failed again after being fixed under the recall. The agency says it opened the defect investigations in February 2002. 2001 Ford Focus Ford Motor Company said on certain Focus models, the seat back recliner handle spring could have been damaged, and the occupant may notice a looseness of the front seat back, or the seat back could unexpectedly recline. If the seat back unexpectedly reclines while the car is being driven, it could result in loss of vehicle control. About 8,500 units were affected. Dealers will replace the seat back recliner handle spring for the driver and front passenger seats. The manufacturer has reported that owner notification began on March 28, 2001. Owners who do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact Ford at 1-800-392-3673. NHTSA Recall No. 01V108/Ford Recall No. 01S13 2000-'01 Ford Taurus and Mercury Cougar Ford Motor Company reports on certain passenger vehicles equipped with adjustable pedals, grease from the adjustable pedal assembly may enter the stop lamp switch, which can contaminate the contacts leading to carbon build up, and potentially, a short circuit. A short circuit could lead to either the brake lamps staying on or to a loss of brake lamp function, increasing the risk of a crash. Dealers will replace the brake lamp switch and wipe down the adjustable pedal assembly to remove excess grease. The manufacturer has reported that owner notification began on March 26, 2001. Owners who do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact Ford at 1-800-392-3673. Ford reports the number of vehicles involved is 157,000 NHTSA Recall No. 01V078/Ford Recall No. 01S08 2000 Ford Taurus, 2000 Mercury Sable, 2000 Ford Excursion Ford Motor Company said on certain passenger and sport utility vehicles, due to the use of incorrect material by a supplier, the headlamp switch knob can fracture and separate from the headlamp switch. This would cause difficulty for the driver to activate the headlamps, which could affect driver visibility, increasing the risk of a crash. Dealers will replace the headlamp switch knob. The manufacturer has reported that owner notification began on March 26, 2001. Owners who do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact Ford at 1-800-392-3673. This recall involves 74,000 vehicles. NHTSA Recall No. 01V075/Ford Recall No. 01S09 1999-2000 Lincoln Continental Air Bag Investigation (No recall at this time) WASHINGTON (AP) - The federal government upgraded its investigation of 50,000 Lincoln Continentals because of reports that air bags on some 1999 and 2000 models can deploy without a crash. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said in mid-May that it has discovered at least 23 complaints of the driver or passenger air bag suddenly deploying as the car travels down the road. Three injuries were reported. Ford Motor Co. told NHTSA investigators its testing showed the deployments were most likely to occur on gravel roads. The sensors to detect a side-impact crash are under the front seats. Ford modified the crash sensors to reduce the inadvertent deployments during production of the 2000 model year. According to the manufacturer, there have been no complaints on Continentals manufactured after the change. NHTSA opens any investigation with a preliminary evaluation in which the agency exchanges paperwork with the manufacturer. A Ford spokesman said the automaker is cooperating with NHTSA's investigation. The case can be upgraded to an engineering analysis, as in the case of the Continentals, where investigators examine parts to see if they are defective. Such investigations can lead to recalls, but many are dropped. Courtesy Associated Press Ford Motor Company: 2000-2001 Ford Taurus Number Involved: 28,000 Dates of Manufacture: March - December 2000 Noncompliance: On those passenger vehicles with factory or dealer-installed deck lid spoilers with LED center high-mounted stop lamps (CHMSL), with the ignition switch in the START or RUN positions and the hazard warning lights operating, the CHMSL can illuminate (at reduced intensity) even though the service brakes have not been applied. This does not meet the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 108, Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment. Also, in some cases the vehicle brake-shift interlock would not function properly allowing the shift lever to be moved from PARK without applying the brake. Vehicles produced with spoilers were manufactured from March 1 through Oct. 31, 2000; and vehicles with spoilers installed by dealers were manufactured from Jan. 1 through Dec. 30, 2000. Dealers will install a jumper/resistor assembly at the spoiler that provides an electrical resistor to ground and corrects the CHMSL and brake-shift interlock conditions. The manufacturer has reported that owner notification was to begin on March 19, 2001. Owners who do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact Ford at 1-800-392-3673. NHTSA Recall No. 01V048/Ford Recall No. 01S06 Ford Motor Company 1999 Mercury Cougar Number Involved: 33,000 Dates of Manufacture: December 1997 - August 1998 On certain passenger vehicles, the brake lamp switch terminals could overheat, potentially causing either a loss of brake lamp function or continuously illuminated brake lamps. Dealers will install a new stop lamp extension harness with bronze terminals at the brake lamp switch connector, and also inspect the brake lamp switch for signs of overheating and replace, as required. The manufacturer has reported that owner notification began on March 5, 2001. Owners who do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact Ford at 1-800-392-3673. NHTSA Recall No. 01V032/Ford Recall No. 01S03 Ford Motor Company: 1999-2000 Mercury Cougar Number Involved: 120,000 Dates of Manufacture: December 1997 - September 2000 On certain passenger vehicles equipped with 2.5-liter V6 engines, the battery cable was misrouted and its attachment to the alternator cable was under-torqued. If misrouted, the cable could contact the power steering line and the insulation could wear, resulting in an electrical short. The short could potentially result in a fire, stalling, or a condition under which the vehicle does not start. Dealers will inspect the battery cable to the alternator for damage and if it is damaged, will replace the cable. Additionally, the routing of the cable will be corrected, as necessary, and a routing clip will be added. Also the torque on the alternator attachment of the cable will be checked and, as required, will be tightened to specification. The manufacturer has reported that owner notification began on March 5, 2001. Owners who do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact Ford at 1-800-392-3673. NHTSA Recall No. 01V031/Ford Recall No. 01S02 Ford 2002 Explorer and Mercury Mountaineer April 10, 2001 Ford Motor on Tuesday said it was recalling its all-new 2002-model Explorer and Mercury Mountaineer sport-utility vehicles, 12,669 of which are already in customer hands, to correct a potential safety problem with the rear window. The problem can cause the glass in the rear liftgate to detach or shatter when the liftgate is closed. Courtesy USA Today Ford Motor Co.: Ford Contour, Mercury Mystique and Mercury Cougar |