WASHINGTON, Jan. 11 (UPI) -- U.S. auto giant Ford Motor Co. announced recalls involving 274,368 Ford Escapes and 251,065 Ford Freestar and Mercury Monterey vehicles.
The recall of Ford Escapes involves model year 2001-02 vehicles that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said pose a fire risk.
Escapes made between Oct. 22, 1999, and July 19, 2002, have brake master reservoir caps that could leak, allowing flammable brake fluid to come in contact with the anti-lock brake system module wiring harness connector.
Should that occur, corrosion of the harness could ensue, leading to an overheating electrical connector and, possibly, a fire.
Ford said it would notify owners of the recall starting Jan. 23, but that "due to a parts delay," repairs might not be scheduled right away.
Separately, Ford is recalling model year 2004-05 Ford Freestar and Mercury Monterey vehicles due to torque converter output shafts that "may fail," the NHTSA said.
The torque converter is a component of the automatic transmission system. If it fails, the vehicle could lose power "with no warning, increasing the risk of a crash," the regulator said.
Ford will begin its recall for Freestar and Monterey vehicles after March.
For information, the company can be reached at 1-866-436-7332.
