Ford Escapes recalled over acceleration
The 2004 Ford Escape was part of a voluntary recall announced July 26, 2012 that affected 484,600 2001 through 2004 model year Escape and Maverick SUVs. The recall was implemented because a cruise-control defect may cause the throttle to stick, leading to unintended acceleration. Credit: Ford
Ford Motor Co. is voluntarily recalling 484,600 Escape and Maverick sport utility vehicles from model years 2001 through 2004, because a cruise-control defect may cause the throttle to stick, leading to unintended acceleration.
The Maverick name is used in Europe only.
Almost 424,000 U.S. vehicles with three-liter, six-cylinder engines are covered by the recall.
On Long Island there were 3,794 six-cylinder Escapes of the 2001 through 2004 model years registered as of April 2011, according to R.L. Polk & Co. Its data does not indicate the number with cruise control.
The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is investigating the safety defect, based on 99 consumer complaints, including 13 involving crashes, one of them fatal.
Ford says there is inadequate clearance between the engine cover and a control cable in those models. Affected owners will be notified by mail beginning Aug. 6. Dealers will replace the fasteners on the engine cover. In the meantime, Escape owners can take their vehicles to dealers, who will disconnect the cruise control, Ford said.
On July 19, Ford recalled 11,500 2013 Escapes powered by 1.6-liter four-cylinder engines because fuel lines were at risk of leaking and causing an engine fire. A few days before that it recalled 10,000 2013 Escapes to fix carpet padding that could interfere with braking.
-- AP and Bloomberg News with Tom Incantalupo
