Ford recalls 500,000 Escapes after engine fires reported
Ford is recalling more than 500,000 Escapes after receiving reports from 50 owners of engine fires from 50 owners. Ford says the fires were caused by improperly installed ABS units on 2001-2004 models, and did not result in any accidents or injuries. Missing or improperly installed seals could allow water or other liquids could get into the units' wiring harnesses, causing a short, and possibly, underhood fires.
Ford dealers will inspect each of the recalled SUVs and repair or replace faulty ABS modules. The recall potentially affects 488,480 Escapes sold in the U.S. and about 75,000 sold in Canada, Mexico and Europe. Hybrid Escapes are not included in the recall.
Read the NHTSA investigation summary on the jump.
[Source: AP via Yahoo]
NHTSA Action Number: PE06048 NHTSA Recall Campaign Number: N/A
Make: FORD Model: ESCAPE
Manufacturer : FORD MOTOR COMPANY
Year : 2002
Component :
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
Date Investigation Opened : October 30, 2006
Date Investigation Closed : Open
Summary:
THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) HAS RECEIVED EIGHT COMPLAINTS ON FORD ESCAPE SUBJECT VEHICLES THAT ALLEGE A NON-CRASH RELATED FIRE ORIGINATING IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AT OR NEAR THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM (ABS) ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE. IN ADDITION, ODI HAS RECEIVED TWO REPORTS ON FORD ESCAPE SUBJECT VEHICLES THAT ALLEGE THERMAL EVENTS OR OTHER FIRE-RELATED PHENOMENA ORIGINATING IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AT OR NEAR THE ABS CONTROL MODULE, AS EVIDENCED BY SMOKE, ARCING AND/OR MELTED ELECTRICAL CONNECTORS AND ASSOCIATED WIRING. TO DATE, ODI HAS NOT RECEIVED ANY COMPLAINTS RELATED TO THE ALLEGED DEFECT ON MAZDA TRIBUTE SUBJECT VEHICLES DESPITE BEING SUBSTANTIALLY SIMILAR TO THE FORD ESCAPE SUBJECT VEHICLES. THE ABS CONTROL MODULE IS AN ON-BOARD DIAGNOSTIC AND CONTROL COMPUTER CONSISTING OF TWO MICROPROCESSORS AND THE NECESSARY CIRCUITRY FOR THEIR OPERATION THAT MONITORS SYSTEM OPERATION DURING NORMAL DRIVING AS WELL AS DURING ANTI-LOCK BRAKING EVENTS. IT IS LOCATED DIRECTLY BENEATH THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER AND BRAKE FLUID RESERVOIR AND IS AFFIXED TO THE ABS HYDRAULIC CONTROL UNIT (HCU) WHICH CONTAINS THE BRAKE PRESSURE CONTROL VALVE BLOCK AND PUMP MOTOR. THE ABS CONTROL MODULE IS LOCATED IN A CIRCUIT THAT IS POWERED AT ALL TIMES REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THE KEY IS IN THE IGNITION SWITCH OR NOT. FIVE COMPLAINANTS HAVE ALLEGED KEY OFF ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES THAT OCCURRED SOME TIME AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THREE OF WHICH HAVE OCCURRED SINCE JULY 2006. IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH THAT WAS THE SUBJECT OF PREVIOUS ODI INVESTIGATIONS EA02-025 AND EA05-005. A PRELIMINARY EVALUATION HAS BEEN OPENED TO ASSESS THE FREQUENCY, SCOPE AND SAFETY CONSEQUENCES OF THE ALLEGED DEFECT.
Make: FORD Model: ESCAPE
Manufacturer : FORD MOTOR COMPANY
Year : 2002
Component :
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
Date Investigation Opened : October 30, 2006
Date Investigation Closed : Open
Summary:
THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) HAS RECEIVED EIGHT COMPLAINTS ON FORD ESCAPE SUBJECT VEHICLES THAT ALLEGE A NON-CRASH RELATED FIRE ORIGINATING IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AT OR NEAR THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM (ABS) ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE. IN ADDITION, ODI HAS RECEIVED TWO REPORTS ON FORD ESCAPE SUBJECT VEHICLES THAT ALLEGE THERMAL EVENTS OR OTHER FIRE-RELATED PHENOMENA ORIGINATING IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AT OR NEAR THE ABS CONTROL MODULE, AS EVIDENCED BY SMOKE, ARCING AND/OR MELTED ELECTRICAL CONNECTORS AND ASSOCIATED WIRING. TO DATE, ODI HAS NOT RECEIVED ANY COMPLAINTS RELATED TO THE ALLEGED DEFECT ON MAZDA TRIBUTE SUBJECT VEHICLES DESPITE BEING SUBSTANTIALLY SIMILAR TO THE FORD ESCAPE SUBJECT VEHICLES. THE ABS CONTROL MODULE IS AN ON-BOARD DIAGNOSTIC AND CONTROL COMPUTER CONSISTING OF TWO MICROPROCESSORS AND THE NECESSARY CIRCUITRY FOR THEIR OPERATION THAT MONITORS SYSTEM OPERATION DURING NORMAL DRIVING AS WELL AS DURING ANTI-LOCK BRAKING EVENTS. IT IS LOCATED DIRECTLY BENEATH THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER AND BRAKE FLUID RESERVOIR AND IS AFFIXED TO THE ABS HYDRAULIC CONTROL UNIT (HCU) WHICH CONTAINS THE BRAKE PRESSURE CONTROL VALVE BLOCK AND PUMP MOTOR. THE ABS CONTROL MODULE IS LOCATED IN A CIRCUIT THAT IS POWERED AT ALL TIMES REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THE KEY IS IN THE IGNITION SWITCH OR NOT. FIVE COMPLAINANTS HAVE ALLEGED KEY OFF ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES THAT OCCURRED SOME TIME AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THREE OF WHICH HAVE OCCURRED SINCE JULY 2006. IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH THAT WAS THE SUBJECT OF PREVIOUS ODI INVESTIGATIONS EA02-025 AND EA05-005. A PRELIMINARY EVALUATION HAS BEEN OPENED TO ASSESS THE FREQUENCY, SCOPE AND SAFETY CONSEQUENCES OF THE ALLEGED DEFECT.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Aprime 10:48AM (4/11/2007)
"after receiving reports from 50 owners of engine fires from 50 owners"
Hum... :\ Isn't that redundant?
Reply
felipe 10:49AM (4/11/2007)
that hurts.
this also effect the Merc Mariner also?... correct?
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AR 10:50AM (4/11/2007)
Well domestic fanboys, let's see you try and explain this one without mentioning the name "Toyota".
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Avinash machado 10:54AM (4/11/2007)
Ford is to Fire what Toyota is to sludge.
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ahsan 10:56AM (4/11/2007)
I read about the recall on cnn.com this morning and it stated that Tributes are also a part of the recall. Incidentally, I had dropped off my wife's Trib for its 45k service this morning and immediately called up the service supervisor and asked about the recall. He was not aware of it. How does this work? Was the recall just announced and will it take time to trickle down to the dealers before they can take action?
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shaz 11:06AM (4/11/2007)
Glad I just rid of my 2001 Escape POS. Good reddens
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Nellydesign 11:08AM (4/11/2007)
#1, I would also say it's repetitively redundant wouldn't you also say that also? We are all agreed then ha ha.
P.S. I am in agreement
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Shawn 11:12AM (4/11/2007)
I thought the argument when Toyota & Honda recall is that this is not a bad thing? LOL
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Chris 2:02PM (4/11/2007)
I guess when they called it the "Escape" they were hinting that maybe you might need to one day.
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Will 11:27AM (4/11/2007)
Bold Move!
Reply
Bob-omb 11:40AM (4/11/2007)
Ya know, *most* companies fix dangerous problems like these after the first year. Glad to know it took Ford four years to fix this problem. Although when a Ford has an engine fire, you never know if it's this, or the cruise control, or...
Reply
Rastus 11:49AM (4/11/2007)
Just imagine...Mom running into 7-11 for a gallon of mile and a newspaper....only to return to find...
...her FORD and BABY ON FIRE...strapped in the baby seat dead and burning!
HAVE YOU DRIVEN A FORD.....LATELY???
FORD, you oh, so very much...SUCK!
Reply
Shipey 4:56PM (4/10/2008)
Wow man. Just... wow.
Of course, it's probably just karma for leaving her child in an unattended vehicle in front of a convenience store.
Dave T. 11:47AM (4/11/2007)
were there any hybrid escapes in 2004?
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Dave T. 11:49AM (4/11/2007)
every story said this about the hybrid too. I'm not picking on AB. I looked it up. First hybrid was 2005.
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Tim 11:50AM (4/11/2007)
Holy combustible Pinto Batman!
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Tommy 12:04PM (4/11/2007)
#4
Is Toyota reall that bad with sludge? I see a lot of toytas with over 100K on the odo still going strong
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Steve 12:07PM (4/11/2007)
And there are PLENTY of Fords with well over 100,000 miles....so whats your point?
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Mike 12:20PM (4/11/2007)
This thread is full of morons.
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Hamud 12:21PM (4/11/2007)
#14 Did you read the whole thing or just came in when you saw the words "Ford" and "recall" in the same phrase??? Nobody reported any kind of injuries or accidents.
#11 How can you fix a problem one year after putting a car in the market if this problem only shows up 5 years later???
Reply