THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, October 10, 1996 TAG: 9610100306
SECTION: BUSINESS PAGE: D2 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE: DETROIT LENGTH: 38 lines
Ford Motor Co. said Wednesday that it is recalling 679,945 vehicles for transmission, seat belt and other problems.
The recall includes:
419,180 Ford Taurus, Mercury Sable and Lincoln Continental cars from the 1996-97 model years - and 1996 Ford Windstar Vans - for transmission inspections.
Ford said the park mechanism may not prevent vehicles from rolling, even if the shift lever is placed in the park position.
248,515 Ford Probes from 1990-92, because the motorized seat belt assemblies may wear out and become inoperative. The lap belt is not affected, Ford said.
5,950 1997 F-Super-Duty with Motorhome Basic Chassis. Ford said the insulation on some battery cables may have been damaged during the supplier's assembly process and could develop a short, which could ignite surrounding components.
5,000 1996-model Ford Taurus SHO passenger cars, to replace fuel pressure regulators having diaphragms that potentially may rupture. If this happened, fuel leakage or engine damage could result. Fuel leakage in the presence of an ignition source could potentially result in a fire.
1,300 1997 Ford F-150 trucks to verify the proper installation of a brake pedal retainer clip on the service brake. This could result in a loss of braking without warning.
Ford is asking the vehicle owners to contact their dealers for inspections and potential modifications.
There have been no accidents reported as a result of the problems, Ford spokeswoman Francine Romine-MacBride said.
Romine-MacBride said affected customers have already been notified by mail. But she said it is possible some customers didn't get their notices, and people who have questions should contact their dealers. by CNB