Ford recalling 244k Escape models, 200,000+ Freestar and Mercury Monterey minivans
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.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsFeds open investigation into Chevy Express, Ford Freestar rust issues
Filed under: Minivan/Van, Government/Legal, Recalls, Safety, Ford, GM, Mercury
'Tis the season... for road salt. And with that, comes rust. And what does rust bring? Well, for Ford and General Motors, a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration investigation. According to The Detroit News, NHTSA is looking into potential recalls issues with Chevrolet Express vans and Ford Freestar minivans.
The feds have received five complaints that rust has caused leaking fuel filler pipes on 2003 Express vans. Separately, seven complaints have been filed over excessive rust in the rear wheel wells of 2004 Ford Freestar and Mercury Monterey minivans. The Freestar and Monterey went out of production in 2007. Neither issue has resulted in any crashes or injuries, according to the report.
Feds open investigation into Chevy Express, Ford Freestar rust issues originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 28 Dec 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsFord recalling 126,000 Fusions and Milans over wheel separation concern
Filed under: Sedan, Recalls, Safety, Ford, Mercury
Ford has announced a recall of certain Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan vehicles after an investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. A total of 128,616 2010 and 2011 models equipped with steel wheels may have been manufactured with wheel studs that could crack and split over time. If that happens, the vehicle may experience a wheel separation.
According to The Detroit News, the company is aware of a total of 30 wheel separation incidents, one of which occurred on the front of the vehicle. Even so, no injuries have been reported as a result of the defect.
The problem apparently stems from the fact that the mounting pads on the vehicles' steel wheels may have been faulty from the factory. In addition, the wheel mounting face on rear disc brakes may not have been installed properly. Ford will inspect the rear disc face and replace them as necessary. In addition, the company will replace all of the vehicle's wheel studs free of charge. Head to the NHTSA website for more information, and click past the jump to view the full recall notice.
Continue reading Ford recalling 126,000 Fusions and Milans over wheel separation concern
Ford recalling 126,000 Fusions and Milans over wheel separation concern originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 09 Dec 2011 11:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsNHTSA escalates probe of Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan wheel issues
Filed under: Sedan, Safety, Ford
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is investigating certain 2010 Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan models for a possible wheel-stud failure. According to Reuters, a total of 317,315 of the mid-sized sedans are being investigated for a default that causes the vehicles' wheel studs to fracture and break over time. This can cause a wheel to detach itself, potentially leading to a serious accident. So far, there have been 29 complaints and 128 warranty claims associated with fractured studs, according to NHTSA, as well as four instances of a wheel actually separating from the vehicle.
Ford, meanwhile, is investigating the root cause of the defect at this time while NHTSA upgrades its efforts from a preliminary investigation to an engineering analysis. A recall could result should the manufacturer or government regulators decide that the issue is widespread. NHTSA opened its preliminary investigation into the matter six months ago. The Fusion and Milan twins have were previously investigated for sticking accelerator pedals.
NHTSA escalates probe of Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan wheel issues originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 01 Aug 2011 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsFord recalls Five Hundred, Mercury Montego sedans over fuel tank woes
Filed under: Recalls, Safety, Ford, Mercury
Ford has announced through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that it is recalling nearly 3,000 examples of its Five Hundred and Mercury Montego (pictured) sedans from the 2007 model year.
The action, which affects 2,945 vehicles, is due to potentially defective welds between the filler neck and the fuel tank, a condition that could result in a fuel leak or the smell of gasoline reaching the occupants. In the worst-case scenario, a leak could cause a fire. Cars with the affected fuel tank problem could see an illuminated dashboard warning light as a result of the evaporative emissions leak being detected.
Ford will inspect and replace the fuel tank at no cost to owners (those who have already had the procedure done at-cost can apply for reimbursement), and the Dearborn automaker will begin notifying Five Hundred and Montego owners beginning August 15. Check out the official NHTSA press release after the jump for further details.
Continue reading Ford recalls Five Hundred, Mercury Montego sedans over fuel tank woes
Ford recalls Five Hundred, Mercury Montego sedans over fuel tank woes originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 18 Jul 2011 08:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsFitting Retirement: Grand Marquis last Mercury off the line
Filed under: Sedan, Plants/Manufacturing, Ford, Lincoln, Mercury
The signs have come down and retail production ended back in October of 2010. Now, the very last Mercury model has rolled off the assembly line. This last Mercury somewhat fittingly takes the form of a Grand Marquis reporting for fleet duty. It was built at the St. Thomas plant in Ontario, Canada, which is the same facility that continues to produce the Ford Crown Victoria and Lincoln Town Car for fleet and livery duty.
St. Thomas' days are numbered, however, as the factory is slated to close on August 31. When it goes, the Panther platform is likely to follow. So long, and thanks for all the
[Source: Autoweek]
Fitting Retirement: Grand Marquis last Mercury off the line originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 05 Jan 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Read | Permalink | Email this | CommentsReport: Lincoln getting all of Mercury’s ad dollars
Filed under: Marketing/Advertising, Ford, Mercury
Now that the curtain has closed on Mercury, Ford Motor Company will redirect all of its marketing dollars for the oft-overlooked brand to the Blue Oval's luxury outpost, Lincoln. In speaking to Automotive News, the chairman of the Lincoln National Dealer Council, Bob Tasca, Jr., said, "You'll see a lot stronger presence in the advertising of Lincoln in 2011."
Lincoln spokesperson Christian Bokich reminded AN that the automaker is "preparing the way for seven new or significantly refreshed vehicles" that will be launched over the next four years, and the largest ad blitz in 2011 will focus on the refreshed MKX crossover, as well as the MKZ sedan and its hybrid counterpart. Following that, Lincoln has plans to launch a completely overhauled version of its Navigator SUV, an all-new C-segment vehicle and the overhauled 2013 MKZ, which Tasca says will be "strikingly different from its Ford Fusion sibling."
[Source: Automotive News - sub. req. | Image: John Neff/Autoblog/AOL]
Report: Lincoln getting all of Mercury's ad dollars originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 03 Jan 2011 11:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Read | Permalink | Email this | CommentsCurtain officially comes down on Mercury as dealers remove signage
The process of shutting down the Mercury is complete. Ford officially made the decision to close its mid-level brand in June of 2010. In the months that followed, Ford offered its dealers money to stop selling the cars, with production shutting down in September. The last Mercury, a Mariner, rolled off the assembly line in the beginning of October and former spokesperson Jill Wagner said her good-byes to both the car and her job. Now the last piece of the brand has come down as dealers are removing any and all Mercury signage from their lots.
[Source: Detroit News]
Curtain officially comes down on Mercury as dealers remove signage originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 03 Jan 2011 09:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Read | Permalink | Email this | CommentsReport: Ford still hoping to cut 10% of its dealer network
Filed under: Car Buying, Ford, Lincoln, Mercury
Ford may have come through the automotive implosion relatively unscathed, but that doesn't mean the company isn't still trying to trim its costs. According to Automotive News, Ford wants to consolidate its dealer network by closing the doors on some 300 lots. The reason? While the automotive market is slowly improving, no one expects to see the kind of buying levels enjoyed before 2009 anytime soon. As a result, Ford wants to boost the profitability of its dealer network by reducing the number of outlets available to consumers.
While you'd expect dealers to be up in arms over such an announcement, Ford says that, by and large, its showrooms are behind the move. The company's relationship with its dealer network recently hit an all-time high, putting Ford in a good position to push the consolidation effort.
The move to trim outlets is also bolstered by the fact that there are 261 Lincoln-Mercury dealerships out there, and with Mercury on its way to the back lot in the sky, those dealers will likely be exploring other options. And with Ford currently operates a total of 3,338 dealerships in the States, a sacrifice of 10% seems more than reasonable.
[Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req. | Image: Bill Pugliano/Getty]
Report: Ford still hoping to cut 10% of its dealer network originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 16 Sep 2010 18:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsReport: Mercury dealers want larger settlement payout
Mercury is two months away from execution, leaving the brand's 1,700 dealers in a pretty tough spot. Essentially, they've got three choices: Agree to Ford's terms and walk away, negotiate and walk away, or pick a legal fight with The Blue Oval. Automotive News reports that about 1,000 dealers still haven't signed FoMoCo's compensation agreement and some of those dealers reportedly stand to lose millions of dollars in the deal.
Dealer lawyers claim that compensation has ranged from between $100,000 and $800,000, depending on a number of factors, including the dealer's dependence on Mercury sales and the average amount of vehicles sold over a three year period. A princely sum, sure, but it won't help some of the dealers who count on Mercury for 50 percent of sales or more. AN reports that Ford acknowledges that some dealers are in markets that cannot support a Lincoln-only store, but the company claims to be working with dealers to get them to sell Fords or sell the remaining Lincoln store to an existing Ford dealer.
Ford will stop producing Mercury-branded vehicles in early October, and while some dealers are picking up as many vehicles as possible, others have stopped ordering vehicles altogether. And until they sell out of their Mercury stock, Ford won't cut dealers a compensation check.
[Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req. | Image: AP Photo/David Zalubowski]
Report: Mercury dealers want larger settlement payout originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 11 Aug 2010 08:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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