| Ford Motor Co. will recall 6,164 Escape | | | | The failure of drivetrain shafts to function |
| hybrid sport utility vehicles built at | | | | is attributed to the wrong installation and |
| Claycomo plant. According to the U.S. traffic | | | | improper heat treatment. Moreover, according |
| agency, said units need to be inspected due | | | | to the agency the fracture may have resulted |
| to the reported possibility of drivetrain | | | | in the SUV rolling after the gearshift is |
| shaft fracture. Said fracture is attributed | | | | placed in 'park'. |
| to the improper installation of the shaft. | | | | |
| | | | During the recall, Ford will replace |
| The recall will include all front-wheel drive | | | | fractured or damaged drivetrain shafts. This |
| version of the gasoline-electric 2006 Ford | | | | was statement was made public by NHTSA last |
| Escape hybrid SUVs which are manufactured | | | | Monday in Washington. Aside from the |
| from July 28, 2005, through April 21, 2006. | | | | drivetrain shafts, no other Ford Escape |
| The recall of said vehicles is scheduled on | | | | hybrid parts were reported to have |
| or before Oct. 23. | | | | discrepancies. |
| | | | |
| According to Kristen Kinley, Ford | | | | Ford said that the dealers will inspect the |
| spokesperson, Ford built about 20,000 Escape | | | | affected Escape hybrids and repair them if |
| Hybrids in the 2006 model year. However, only | | | | necessary at no cost. Moreover, the owners of |
| 6,164 of it will be inspected Ford. The | | | | the affected vehicles can contact the Ford at |
| information was given by the National Highway | | | | (800) 392-3673. |
| Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Said | | | | |
| inspection is triggered by a handful of | | | | The recall will only include a slice of 2006 |
| reports that have swarmed Ford. The company | | | | Ford Escape hybrid production and will not |
| has in fact identified 14 reports of the | | | | affect its sister vehicle - Mercury Mariner. |
| problem through its internal database. Kinley | | | | The latter was also manufactured at Claycomo |
| further added, "There have been no reports of | | | | plant and was produced only as |
| injuries or accidents." | | | | all-wheel-drive vehicles. |
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