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NHTSA: 450,000 Ford cars recalled
Detroit-based Ford Motor Company is recalling more than 450,000 of its cars that were made between 2001 and 2005, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced Wednesday.
The company has often touted the quality of its newer models as a factor in its financial turnaround that began in 2008, when other American automakers accepted bailouts from the federal government and Ford did not. But the NHTSA said 205,896 Ford Freestars and Mercury Montereys made between 2004 and 2005, and 244,530 Ford Escapes made between 2001 and 2002 have transmission and brake problems, respectively.
In the case of the Freestar/Monterey — Mercury is a subsidiary of Ford — NHTSA said it was possible the torque converter on the vehicles could fail, which the agency said would cause “a sudden loss of motive power with no warning, increasing the risk of a crash.”
“If brake fluid leaks from the cap, it could come in contact with the antilock brake system (ABS) module wiring harness connector,” the agency said in its report. “Corrosion can develop in the electrical connector, leading to melting, smoke or a fire.”
NHTSA said Escape, Freestar and Monterey owners can either get in touch with the agency or Ford itself to determine how to proceed regarding their recalled vehicles.
