Autoblog

Ford recalls 2013 Focus, C-Max and Escape over faulty child safety locks

Jeffrey N. Ross — Fri, 15 Mar 2013 17:45:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Government/Legal, Recalls, Crossover, Hatchback, Ford

We have yet to find any official documentation from either Ford or the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, but Edmunds and Cars.com are both reporting that there is a recall on the 2013 C-Max, Focus and Escape. All three vehicles were assembled with a faulty child door lock mechanism on the left rear door that might not work properly allowing a child to accidently open the door from the inside.

Affected vehicles were built in the middle of November, 2012 totaling somewhere between 5,600 and just over 7,000 units, and concerned owners can call Ford at 866-436-7332 or NHTSA at 888-327-4236 to see if their vehicles are involved in this recall. The recall doesn't go into effect until March 25, but in the meantime, owners can probably check the operation of the door or position children on the right side of the car, if possible, until the recall has been performed.

Ford recalls 2013 Focus, C-Max and Escape over faulty child safety locks originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 15 Mar 2013 17:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ford details how it will fix recalled fire-risk 2013 Escape and Fusion models

Jeffrey N. Ross — Tue, 11 Dec 2012 07:57:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Government/Legal, Recalls, Safety, Crossover, Ford

Ford announced today that it has determined the problem and has worked up a fix for the engine fires that have resulted in recalls for 2013 Ford Escape and Fusion models equipped with the 1.6-liter EcoBoost engine. Ford says the fires are being caused by an issue with the cooling system software that fails to properly manage engine temperatures during "unique overheating conditions," which are allowing the engines to get hot enough to start a fire while running. This is the third link to engine fires with faulty fuel lines being the culprit back in July and leaking coolant in September.

To prevent the overheating, Ford will be updating the software for the cooling system, but until then, the automaker says that owners of affected vehicles should not drive their vehicles and contact the dealer to arrange alternative transportation. According to Automotive News, this means that 73,320 owners are still in rental cars costing Ford up to $55 per day. None of the other engines used in these vehicles are involved in the recall.

Scroll down for more details on this recall including contact information for affected owners.

Continue reading Ford details how it will fix recalled fire-risk 2013 Escape and Fusion models

Ford details how it will fix recalled fire-risk 2013 Escape and Fusion models originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 11 Dec 2012 07:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Supplier to blame for Escape engine recall?

Jeff Sabatini — Tue, 24 Jul 2012 10:44:00 EST

Filed under: Government/Legal, Marketing/Advertising, Recalls, Crossover, Ford

More details have surfaced in the latest 2013 Ford Escape recall, with blame for problematic fuel lines falling on supplier TI Automotive, according to Reuters. Ford told the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that the defective fuel lines were "mechanically scored," which could cause the lines to leak.

The recall was announced last week, with Ford asking owners to park their vehicles because of the threat of engine fires posed by the leaky fuel lines. Yesterday it became known that Ford would be reimbursing dealers an extra $300 per customer vehicle serviced under the recall.

Ford's desire to expediently wrap up the recall and its negative publicity will surely cost the automaker, but not nearly as much as we had previously estimated. According to the report, Ford has sold 4,800 of the 11,500 Escape crossovers covered in the recall, vehicles that were built between October 8, 2011 and July 11, 2012. That means the additional $300 payments would cost the automaker $1.44 million.

TI Automotive continues to provide fuel lines for the Escape, according to Reuters, and has fixed the manufacturing problem.

Supplier to blame for Escape engine recall? originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 24 Jul 2012 10:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ford paying dealers $300 to fix each recalled Escape

Jeff Sabatini — Mon, 23 Jul 2012 17:28:00 EST

Filed under: Government/Legal, Marketing/Advertising, Recalls, Crossover, Ford

How important is the launch of the redesigned Escape to Ford? Apparently enough that Dearborn is throwing money at dealers to try and make the new model's teething problems go away, and fast.

According to The Detroit Free Press, Ford is giving dealers a $300 spiff for each recalled 2013 Ford Escape they repair for a customer, with a goal of having all 11,500 Escapes that have been recalled for potentially leaky fuel lines fixed within two weeks. The recall is a particularly serious one, as it could lead to an engine fire.

Some simple math says that Ford could pay out as much as $3.45 million in extra compensation to its dealers. Clearly the company wants to avoid the problems it had launching the original Escape in 2000, which was recalled multiple times soon after going on sale.

Ford is recommending 2013 Escapes subject to the recall not be driven until repaired, and customers are being issued loaner vehicles in the meantime, according to the report. Dealers have also been instructed to top off the tanks and wash and vacuum the vehicles they service under the recall.

Ford paying dealers $300 to fix each recalled Escape originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 23 Jul 2012 17:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ford recalling 244k Escape models, 200,000+ Freestar and Mercury Monterey minivans

Jeff Sabatini — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Minivan/Van, Recalls, Safety, Crossover, Ford

Ford is recalling nearly half a million vehicles in two separate actions announced today by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Just over 244,000 Ford Escape crossovers from model year 2001 and 2002 are being recalled for potentially leaky brake master cylinder reservoir caps, while nearly 206,000 2004 and 2005 Ford Freestar and Mercury Monterey minivans may have defective torque converter output shafts.

NHTSA says that in the case of the Escape, leaking brake fluid could cause corrosion on an electrical connector in the antilock brake system wiring harness, leading to "melting, smoke or a fire." Ford will begin notifying owners the week of Jan. 23, although a parts delay is expected to postpone repairs. "Ford will instruct owners to park their vehicles outside until such time as parts become available," says NHTSA.

The minivan recall is scheduled for the second quarter of 2012, and will result in dealers inspecting and replacing the torque converter in affected vehicles.

Read the full NHTSA recall reports after the jump.

Continue reading Ford recalling 244k Escape models, 200,000+ Freestar and Mercury Monterey minivans

Ford recalling 244k Escape models, 200,000+ Freestar and Mercury Monterey minivans originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 11 Jan 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ford recalls 500,000 Escapes after engine fires reported

Chris Tutor — Wed, 11 Apr 2007 10:33:00 EST

Filed under: Recalls, Ford

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]

Continue reading Ford recalls 500,000 Escapes after engine fires reported

Ford recalls 500,000 Escapes after engine fires reported originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 11 Apr 2007 10:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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