08/08/2003 – Ford Voluntarily Recalls Certain Explorers/Mountaineers For Upgrades

DEARBORN, Mich., Aug. 8, 2003 – Ford Motor Company has
initiated a voluntary safety recall involving 1998-2001 Ford
Explorers and Mercury Mountaineers, and 2001-2002 Ford Explorer
Sport and Sport Trac sport utility vehicles, to correct potential
product issues. Customers with affected vehicles will be able to
have their vehicles upgraded, free of charge, at their Ford or
Lincoln Mercury dealer. To determine if their vehicle is affected
by this action, customers can call Ford’s toll-free line at
1-866-436-7332.

The first action involves 499,988 1999 through 2001 model year
Ford Explorer, Explorer Sport and Mercury Mountaineer models, and
2001 Explorer Sport Trac vehicles equipped with 4.0 liter V-6
engines and the optional speed control system. The company has
received some customer reports alleging the speed control may not
disengage when the vehicle is under power. This condition can be
caused, over time, by the speed control cable wearing out
prematurely on some of these vehicles. The cables will be inspected
and, if necessary, replaced free of charge by the dealer. Not all
vehicles will require replacement of the speed control cable.

The second action, which may also include vehicles with the
affected speed control cable, involves approximately 1.6 million
1998 through 2001 model year Ford Explorer and Mercury Mountaineer
models, and 2001-2002 Explorer Sport and Sport Trac models with
high-back seats. There have been customer reports of the driver’s
side seat upper recliner to seat back frame attachment bolt
fracturing on certain vehicles. Some customers have reported
“looseness” and “noise” in the mechanism. There is the potential of
the bolt fracturing completely, forcing the seat to fully recline
unexpectedly, and the driver could potentially lose contact with the
steering wheel and/or foot pedals.

No accidents or injuries have been reported in relation to either
of these product issues.

Customers with the affected vehicles will be notified by mail in
early September. Most customers – those with the affected seat
bolts, but not the affected speed control cable – will require only
one repair. Customers whose vehicles have both the affected seat
back bolt and the affected speed control cable can have both repairs
made in one visit to their dealer.

These product upgrades will be performed free of charge only at
Ford or Lincoln Mercury dealers. If customers wish, they can call
Ford’s toll free line at 1-866-436-7332 to determine if their
vehicle is affected by this product upgrade.