Ford Escape owners may need to bring their vehicles in for a company-funded recall. Ford Motor Co. is alerting known owners of the brand-new Ford Escape of a safety risk to the SUV. Owners are instructed not to drive the vehicles until the dealership can make adjustments to the fuel lines within them. The risk to the consumer involves the cracking and spillage of gasoline, which can lead to serious engine fires.
The company is recalling the 2013 Ford Escape specifically. The model involved in the recall is equipped with a 1.6 liter, four-cylinder engine. A total of 11,500 vehicles in the U.S. and Canada are involved in the recall, though only 4,800 of the vehicles had been sold at the time of the recall. Others are on dealer lots and will be repaired prior to their sale.
Ford is requesting that vehicle owners stop using the vehicle and contact their local dealership to bring in the vehicle. SUV owners will be given a loaner vehicle while the repairs are made.
Other sized engines are not affected by the recall.
This is the second recall for the Escape since its recent redesign. The vehicle went on sale in June of 2012. The company also noted that it was recalling about 10,000 Escapes to fix a problem with the carpet padding that could limit the driver’s ability to stop the vehicle with the brake.
Thus far, while no injuries have been reported, three fires have occurred as a result of the flaw. Of most concern, one of those fires occurred when a consumer was driving the vehicle.
Source: Newsday, “Ford recalls new Escapes after engine fires,” July 19, 2012.
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