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