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.