Ford recalls escape (again) and new fusion

Paul A. Eisenstein, NBC News contribution
Ford Motor Co. new escape crossover became the subject of a series of another recalls how the automaker warns since mid-year for the first time - and now stands above versions of popular CUV, equipped with a 1, 1.6-liter EcoBoost engine overheat and could catch fire.

The problem also has an impact, the 2013 Ford Fusion. All in all are affected approximately 89,000 of both models - see Ford's best-selling nameplates.

The latest recall could be a setback not only for the models by 2013-fusion and escape, but for Ford itself. The manufacturer has in recent months in a number of surveys have been hammered satisfaction, quality, and reliability.

According to Ford, the problem includes vehicles only with 1.6 liter turbo EcoBoost engine, an optional Powertrain developed in order to better risks and performance improves. Ford says which can overheat the motor and coolant leakage. She in turn could catch fire if it comes into contact with hot engine components such as E.g. the silencers."We have identified a problem and take measures in the best interest of our customers,"Steve said Kenner, Director of Ford's automotive safety Office. "It is important that the affected customers ignore them remember and as soon as possible, please contact your dealer." "While we are creating the callbacks from inconvenience our customers recognize, take these actions on their behalf, to ensure that their safety we."

So far, the manufacturer confirms reports 12 fires, where the escape and one with the merger.

The manufacturer says drivers appear to receive a warning when the problem develops, a message flashes on the instrument cluster consulting, either "Engine power reduced at lower temps" or "engine temp, sure to stop." Red warning lights and sound games can also indicate a problem. Motorists should take the problem seriously and pull over immediately in the case of such warning, says Ford.

Total 73.320 2013 Ford Escape models under the recall, coincide with 15.833 2013 Ford Fusion sedans. About 80,000 of the affected vehicles were sold in the United States.

The manufacturer says it is looking for a solution to the problem and plans to offer loaners can be performed until repairs to owners.

The announcement of the recall comes less than a week after the 2013 Ford Fusion green car of the year, during a ceremony at the LA Auto show is named. A wide range of high-mileage, low-emission Powertrain options, with the two hybrids and two different ways of the EcoBoost contain jurors welcomed providing new Ford sedan.

The problem might be for Ford, a considerable problem dar, especially if it requires to set the manufacturer, manufacturing and distribution of the 1, 1.6 liter EcoBoost for a long time.

The latest recall could further tarnish the reputation of the Ford escape, one of the industry's biggest sellers in the compact crossover segment. The model 2013 migrates to a car-based platform from the traditional body frame, truck-like.

The flight was also the subject of numerous reminded since July. Weeks after debuting the crossover was the subject of a service action due to possible fuel line leak. The situation was serious enough for Ford owners advise parking the vehicle and resellers in soak for repairs. A later callback involves a potential coolant leak-in this case one connector defective coolant tracks.

Ford says that free of charge for owners of the affected vehicles repairs make it.

Read More

Ford recalls new escape again, relying on fire

DETROIT--Ford Motor Co is recalling its newly launched 2013 escape SUV a third time, relying on improperly installed part, that trigger a fire in the engine compartment.

About 7,600 escapes, especially in the United States, is equipped with a 1, 1.6 liter EcoBoost engine, this recall, Ford said on Wednesday. The models were built between October 5, 2011 and 31 August 2012. Ford is the number two on the U.S. automaker by sales.

In few of these models, the Cup plug on the engine can cause cylinder head. This leads to loss of engine coolant, making the engine overheat. The ethylene glycol in coolant combust can in some cases.

Less than 0.4% of the escape models in the United States recalled this problem have said Ford in a document with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration filed.

Ford recalled in July 11,500 SUVs escape for a fuel line broken, which could cause an engine fire. The problem caused the rare step Ford owners, say, drive to stop immediately.

The latest recall is less severe and is independent of the fuel-line problem, Ford said. About 6.150 of the falling action of SUVs are in the United States and 1,300 in Canada.

"Based on the facts from our investigation, we really feel that by the previous instance requires extraordinary measures necessary here," Ford spokeswoman Marcey said onions.

The 1, 1.6 liter EcoBoost engine is produced in the Ford Bridgend engine plant in England. In his investigation, Ford found that the Cup plug susceptible to problems manual have been installed.

It was common practice in the work by hand these components install, if there was a problem with the automated systems have been. The case, onion said no longer.

"The plant now only automated machines used for this installation," she said. "Is there not more manual installation of certain part."

The problem came to light last month after a flight on a lot of dealers in Nashville, Tennessee, because of a plug coupled off caught fire. Ford later found that an escape fire reported by a Ford employee had been created on July 11 by a missing plug.

Ford said that the water in the coolant could evaporate in some cases, as soon as it leaked, increase the concentration of ethylene glycol to the point where it could burn.

Ford said in the application that it fires escapes to customers not sold was aware. Spare parts are available from dealers.

The SUV escape, one models sold Ford's best, was for the model year 2013 completely redesigned. It is one of the two critical launches for Ford this year. The other is the 2013 fusion mid-size sedan that will go in this fall in sales.

Also in July, Ford recalls more than 8,000 escape SUVs to fix a carpet problem, the drivers ability to apply the brakes disturbed.

The escape said Ford's fastest selling vehicle on dealer lots, Ford chief Ken Czubay marketing on Tuesday. Two weeks ago, Ford added a third shift in his escape in Louisville, Kentucky, to keep pace with the demand.

Until August, this year, Ford has to 5.5 percent from 2011 about 177,000 escape SUVs sold. About 90 percent of the escape SUVs have sold a 1, 1.6-litre or 2, 0 liter EcoBoost engine.

Copyright 2011 Thomson Reuters.

Read More

Ford warns some escape owners to stop, driving

The Detroit Bureau

The new 2013 Ford Escape is facing its second recall in only a week-this one interfere with 11,500 vehicles.

By Paul A. Eisenstein, the Detroit Bureau
Ford Motor Co. advises owners of an estimated 11,500 new escapes to park their vehicles until they line leaks can be repaired by dealers due to potential fuel, could cause fires.

New 2013 escape crossover can commercial vehicle Ford's well with consumers but security have made not so good with the supervisory authorities of the Federal Republic, after that recall Detroit maker the second, on which the new model announced in less than a week. Earlier versions of the escape are assemblies also because of concerns about potentially sticky accelerators.

Remember the latest escape is aimed specifically at new 2013 models with 1.6 liter engine of the manufacturer. Other versions are not in the recall, involved where Ford takes the unusual step questions owners can be not made with the vehicle repairs. Retailers offer a loaner vehicle for free and to handle the transport of vehicles to the service bays for repairs.

Reminds in contrast to most where decision makers take up to one month begin to notify owners repair, urges immediate action in this case Ford the manufacturer's safety after Ray Naevi, Assistant Director operations. "As soon as possible repair our intensive investigation and testing the identified problem, and we are moving us vehicles for our customers." "In the meantime, it is extremely important that the affected customers can't ignore this product recall and contact your dealer immediately."

The manufacturer says he knows no injuries as a result of the defect but does not specify when, or may have taken place as many fires due to the possible fuel line leaks.

Ford owner wants to act quickly, not to wait to get the normal notification process. Owners of the 11,500 asks her 2013 escapes from the recall covered, to contact its customer relations at 1-866-436-7332-Center or go online to www.fordowner.com how to do.

The latest announcement is a further blow to the popular escape line. The new crossover was the target of a recall Monday covering announced 10,000 2013 models that could experience so-called "carpet entrapment," where loose floor mats jam the pedals and lead, that the vehicle by running could control.

Meanwhile, Administration announced beginning a study of 730 000 Ford escape and Mazda Tribute SUVs from the 2001 to 2004 model years this week at the national highway traffic safety. The vehicles could sticky accelerators - ironically, as a result of repairs, which experience due to a previous callback. Still no decision about whether vehicles back order this decided.

This week headlines could a setback, as Ford wants to convince that it has solved the last quality issues it driver behind of the industry as the 2012 j.d. power quality initial survey average in such well-tracked studies have left.

But the industry, usually an increase in the number of recalls in recent months according to industry analysts. This can be the result a crackdown by federal authorities after the Toyota safety scandal of 2009/10.

Honda announced today that it by 172,000 CR-V crossover and Acura ILX limousine door locking problems would remember.

Read More

Review: 4-cylinder Ford Escape strikes the right tone

Ford

The 2013 Escape will offer only four-cylinder engines. Can such engines really match customers' power expectations? Yes.

By Dan Carney, msnbc.com contributor
We’ve seen this movie before: Stagnant economy. Soaring gas prices. Government-mandated increases in fuel economy that doom the big vehicles Americans prefer.

In the 1970s, automakers responded to those conditions with that they called “downsizing.” Cars became cheaply made, cramped and slow. For some reason, consumers weren’t thrilled with these new models. The quick-and-dirty solution was to bolt a turbocharger onto their wheezing, underperforming four-cylinder engines with the promise of hot performance and good fuel economy. Sailors have made more reliable promises to girls in foreign ports.

The technology was immature and the result was unreliable: short-lived engines with poor dynamic driving qualities. Ford was one of the culprits, with turbocharged four-cylinder engines offered in models like the Mustang and Thunderbird, which were traditionally powered by V8s.

But that was a long time ago. In response to pricey gas and more stringent federal fuel economy standards, Ford is rolling out a family of smaller turbocharged engines to replace bigger, thirstier ones. And this time, Ford got it right.

While the V6 engine option was popular in the outgoing Escape compact SUV, the 2013 Escape will offer only four-cylinder engines. Can such engines really match customers’ power expectations? Yes they can. Especially when they are the turbocharged EcoBoost engines that Ford offers as an upgrade from the base engine.

The base engine is an update of 168-horsepower, 2.5-liter four-cylinder seen in the outgoing model and it is a good one for budget-conscious drivers, with 22 mpg city and 31 mpg highway. But things start to get more interesting with the next step in the lineup, with a 178-hp turbocharger EcoBoost 1.6-liter four-cylinder.

That's an incredibly small engine to expect to move a 3,500-plus pound SUV, but thanks to modern turbocharger technology it makes both the peak power and the low-speed torque to move the Escape with good hustle. It has marginally better horsepower, torque and fuel economy than the base engine, a combination that makes it an appealing upgrade. The EcoBoost 1.6 offers the maximum fuel economy among the Escape’s engines, with 23 mpg city and 33 mpg highway.

A lot of buyers liked their V6 engines, though. What are they to do? The 240-hp 2.0-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder is the answer for them. Ford did extra homework on this engine, giving drivers more power than the old model’s V6 with fuel economy nearly equal to that of the base engine, at 23 mpg city and 30 mpg highway.

But just as importantly, Ford engineers sweated the detailed needed to make the EcoBoost 2.0 smooth and quiet enough to serve as a legitimate substitute for a V6. This is the area where carmakers will see the most resistance from customers, because V6 and V8 engines are smooth and quiet, with a refined exhaust note. Four-cylinders are inherently raucous, challenging engineers to find ways to tame their obnoxious nature if upmarket customers are to accept them.

Ford has achieved that with the 2.0 EcoBoost. The 1.6 EcoBoost targets a customer with a sportier mindset who might want to hear the engine a little bit, so it is louder, but the 2.0-liter is thoroughly muffled.

That quietness is indicative of the 2013 Escape’s overall refinement. Like the Ford Focus compact car on which it is based, the Escape is a notch above its competitors, providing a rich feeling driving experience. Unlike the Focus, the Escape enjoys a proper automatic transmission, with six gears and slick shifts, so the Escape won’t chase away potential buyers with an irritating, rough-driving automated manual transmission posing as an automatic.

The Escape’s cabin is opulently detailed, and even the entry-level models have pleasant soft-touch surfaces. The thick-rimmed steering wheel connects to excellent steering that provides superb feedback. The Mazda CX-5 is the Escape’s only equal dynamically, and the Escape has less road and wind noise inside for a more placid passenger space.

Like other new Fords, the Escape boasts an improved version of the annoying-to-use Sync voice command system and MyFord Touch touch-screen infotainment systems. The latest iteration is less of a pain in the, er, neck to use but still falls short of the simplicity and convenience of properly designed knobs and switches. At this point MyFord Touch remains an exercise in technology for technology’s sake, so we look forward to the next upgrade. We’d still opt for the conventional radio and climate controls.

But here’s a tiny electronic detail they got right: the turn signal. Seems simple enough, but in recent years Ford and other carmakers have decided that it would be better for the control stalk to return to center, even when you’ve activated the turn signal. For the Escape they’ve gone back to having the stalk remain in the raised or lowered position if the turn signal is on, letting you know it is still on and making turning it off simple. When the stalk is already in the middle, how do you cancel a turn signal?

Other electronic gimmicks: a tailgate that opens and closes remotely by kicking your foot under the rear in the manner of an old straight-ahead field goal kicker (props to Redskins kicker Mark Mosley, 1982 NFL MVP, the last straight-ahead kicker and the only kicker ever named MVP!). And electronic grille shutters that block airflow to the radiator at highway speeds to trim aerodynamic drag and boost fuel economy.

The “U” in SUV does stand for “Utility” and Ford added that in the Escape by stretching the vehicle’s wheelbase and adding most of that newfound space to the rear seat for more passenger legroom. The cargo area is also larger for that ubiquitous “stuff” people cite when explaining their need for an SUV rather than a sedan.

The Escape marks our third consecutive compact SUV review, as this hotly contested segment turns over this year. That’s because compact SUVs are second only to sedans in popularity, and the two groups account for 60 percent of new car sales.

With impressive innovations like EcoBoost providing an excellent combination of power and frugality, it is easy to see why these vehicles are attracting a large following.

2013 Ford Escape

Base price: $23,295 (including $825 delivery)Price as tested: $26,875 (including $825 delivery)EPA fuel economy: 23 city, 33 highwayPros: Slippery styling, zippy handling, bank-vault solidityCons: MyFord Touch infotainment hassles, and, um, that’s about itVerdict: The best compact SUV in the mainstream segment, with the handling of the Mazda CX-5 and the quietness of premium-segment models.Standard equipment: 2.5-liter 168-hp four-cylinder engine, six-speed automatic transmission, power steering, AM/FM/CD six-speaker stereo, battery saver featureMajor options: 1.6-liter 178-hp EcoBoost engine, Sync voice control, Sirius satellite radio, fog lamps, SecuriCode keyless entrySafety equipment: electronic stability control , antilock brakes, brake assist, dual-stage front airbags, side airbags, driver’s knee airbag, tire pressure monitoring

Read More