DETROIT (AP)
-- Ford Motor Co. said Friday that it is recalling more than 89,000 new
Escape SUVs and Fusion sedans because the engines can overheat and cause
fires.
The recall affects vehicles from the
2013 model year with 1.6-liter turbocharged engines that were sold in
the U.S. and Canada, the company said in a statement.
Ford
says it's working on a fix and is asking owners to contact dealers, who
will arrange for loaner cars at no charge until the repairs are made.
The company says the engines can overheat and leak fluids onto hot
parts, causing fires. Ford is trying to find out what causes the
overheating problem.
It's the fourth recall in
four months for the all-new Escape, a top seller for Ford in the
important compact SUV segment of the market. The new 2013 version went
on sale in the spring, and it already has had problems with coolant
leaks, cracked fuel lines and carpet padding. Safety advocates say that
more than three recalls in a car's first year are a sign of quality
problems, although Ford has said previously that the recalls show it's
moving quickly to address safety problems.
Ford
spokesman Said Deep said the recall comes after the company received
reports of 12 fires in Escapes and one in a Fusion. No injuries have
been reported. Deep said he did not know what fluids are leaking.
Ford
urged owners of the recalled vehicles to call dealers to get loaner
cars. The cars can still be driven, but owners whose dashboard warning
lights illuminate should pull off the road, turn off the engine and
leave the vehicle, the company said.
"It is
important that affected customers not ignore this recall and contact
their dealer as soon as possible," Steve Kenner, director of Ford's
Automotive Safety Office, said in the statement.
Escape and Fusion owners can find out more about the recall by going to Ford's website, www.ford.com
, and clicking "View Notices and Recalls" in the "Support" tab. Owners
can type in the 17-digit vehicle identification number to see if their
vehicles are included. They can also call Ford at (866) 436-7332 in the
U.S. or (888) 222-7814 in Canada, Ford said in a statement.
The
recall affects Fusions and Escapes with "SE" and "SEL" packages. Models
with different engines don't have the problem and are not involved in
the recall. About 73,000 Escapes and 16,000 Fusions are affected.
In
September the company recalled 7,600 new Escapes to fix coolant leaks
that can cause engines to overheat or catch fire. Those Escapes also
have 1.6-liter four-cylinder engines. Plugs in the engine may not have
been installed properly and can fall out while the motor is running.
Coolant can leak and cause engines to overheat.
In
July, the company recalled 11,500 Escapes to fix fuel lines that can
crack, leak and cause fires. In the same month Ford recalled more than
10,000 of the vehicles to fix carpet padding that can interfere with
braking.
Both the Fusion and Escape are among
Ford's top-selling vehicles. So far this year, the Dearborn, Mich.,
automaker has sold nearly 220,000 Escapes and 207,000 Fusions, according
to Autodata Corp. But many of those are from the previous model year
and have different engines.
Both vehicles seat five. The 2013 Escape has a starting price of $22,470, while the Fusion starts at $21,700.
Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
