Ford to Recall 6,000 Escape Hybrid SUVs
#1
Ford to Recall 6,000 Escape Hybrid SUVs
FYI from:
http://www.latimes.com/business/la-f...ck=1&cset=true
Ford Motor Co. will recall 6,164 Escape hybrid sport utility vehicles from model year 2006 for inspections because a drivetrain shaft may fracture, a U.S. agency said.
Ford will replace the shafts if necessary, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said. The intermediate shaft may not have been properly heat-treated, and a fracture may result in the SUV rolling after the gearshift is placed in park, the agency said.
Ford received a handful of reports about the problem and then began examining it, said Kristen Kinley, a spokeswoman for Dearborn, Mich.-based Ford. "There have been no reports of injuries or accidents," she said.
http://www.latimes.com/business/la-f...ck=1&cset=true
Ford Motor Co. will recall 6,164 Escape hybrid sport utility vehicles from model year 2006 for inspections because a drivetrain shaft may fracture, a U.S. agency said.
Ford will replace the shafts if necessary, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said. The intermediate shaft may not have been properly heat-treated, and a fracture may result in the SUV rolling after the gearshift is placed in park, the agency said.
Ford received a handful of reports about the problem and then began examining it, said Kristen Kinley, a spokeswoman for Dearborn, Mich.-based Ford. "There have been no reports of injuries or accidents," she said.
#4
Re: Ford to Recall 6,000 Escape Hybrid SUVs
Ford will replace the shafts if necessary, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said. The intermediate shaft may not have been properly heat-treated, and a fracture may result in the SUV rolling after the gearshift is placed in park, the agency said.
I'm kinda curious as to how an inspection would reveal whether the shaft was properly heat treated. Don't they keep track of what parts go into which vehicle by VIN? They should be able to recall only those that have the defective part. I don't think someone shining a flashlight under my car is going to be able to reveal the absense of heat treatment.
I'm not looking forward to leaving my car at the dealership for a day or more. Hope the recall includes an alignment if they do have to remove and/or replace the shaft.
#5
Re: Ford to Recall 6,000 Escape Hybrid SUVs
Originally Posted by Thegreatescape
You've got it Walt - 2WD only. It's recall 06S44. My dealer contact informed me that owners will be notified in late October.
"The SUVs in question were produced from July 28, 2005, through April 21, 2006, at Ford's Kansas City, Mo., assembly plant, the company said in a statement. Ford, the second-largest U.S. automaker, said it identified 14 reports of the problem through its internal database."
#6
Re: Ford to Recall 6,000 Escape Hybrid SUVs
Originally Posted by nitramjr
Don't they keep track of what parts go into which vehicle by VIN? They should be able to recall only those that have the defective part. I don't think someone shining a flashlight under my car is going to be able to reveal the absense of heat treatment.
I'm guessing that the dealer will be able to identify whether or not the shaft has been properly heat treated by the date code or some other unmistakeable identifying mark on the part. When it comes to a recall there's absolutely no guesswork or judgement call involved!
#7
Re: Ford to Recall 6,000 Escape Hybrid SUVs
Originally Posted by nitramjr
If it only affected the vehicle rolling after it was put in park then the parking brake being set would prevent that. No danger of it snapping at highway speeds? Or under heavy acceleration trying to get onto the highway?
I'm kinda curious as to how an inspection would reveal whether the shaft was properly heat treated. Don't they keep track of what parts go into which vehicle by VIN? They should be able to recall only those that have the defective part. I don't think someone shining a flashlight under my car is going to be able to reveal the absense of heat treatment.
I'm not looking forward to leaving my car at the dealership for a day or more. Hope the recall includes an alignment if they do have to remove and/or replace the shaft.
I'm kinda curious as to how an inspection would reveal whether the shaft was properly heat treated. Don't they keep track of what parts go into which vehicle by VIN? They should be able to recall only those that have the defective part. I don't think someone shining a flashlight under my car is going to be able to reveal the absense of heat treatment.
I'm not looking forward to leaving my car at the dealership for a day or more. Hope the recall includes an alignment if they do have to remove and/or replace the shaft.
#8
Re: Ford to Recall 6,000 Escape Hybrid SUVs
Originally Posted by camedian
"The recall covers only the four-wheel-drive version of the gasoline-electric 2006 Escape. It's expected to begin on or before Oct. 23, the safety agency said."
#9
Re: Ford to Recall 6,000 Escape Hybrid SUVs
Originally Posted by Thegreatescape
The letter Ford sent to their dealers specifies 2WD vehicles only. I've read it myself. Ford's letter even specifically states the Mariner Hybrid is not affected by this (the Mariner Hybrid is only available as a 4WD) and 4WD Escapes HYbrids are also specifically excluded.
The recall covers 6,164 front-wheel drive Escape Hybrids built from July 28, 2005, through April 21. Ford built about 20,000 Escape Hybrids in the 2006 model year, said Kristen Kinley, a Ford spokeswoman.
The recall does not affect the Escape’s sister vehicle, the Mercury Mariner, also made at Claycomo.
Mariners are produced only as all-wheel-drive vehicles, Kinley said.
#10
Re: Ford to Recall 6,000 Escape Hybrid SUVs
Originally Posted by TeeSter
As for whether it can break under load.... I don't see where it says it can't. They give the example of it braking while in park, that doesn't eliminate other examples.