Ford is recalling nearly 400,000 2001-2004 Escapes to deal with rust issues.
Ford joined the ranks of automakers battling a persistent issue through a series of recalls as the automaker is recalling more than 434,000 vehicles due to rust issues.
The vehicles are part of two separate actions. Ford recalled 385,750 model-year 2001-2004 Escape SUVs because a subframe could fail because of rust and impact the ability to steer. About 349,000 of those Escapes were sold in the U.S.
Like General Motors, Toyota and Chrysler, Ford’s been battling an issue it cannot seem to resolve easily, in this case, rust on several of its older model vehicles.
In fact, Ford has recalled more than 2 million vehicles since 2010 for various rust problems in older vehicles, according to the Detroit News.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) closed an investigation about the same issue in more than 800,000 2005-2011 Crown Victorias, Mercury Grand Marquis and Lincoln Town Cars, late last year.
In those cars, a rust-related defect in the lower intermediate steering shaft was suspected of causing a separation of the steering column lower bearing and loss of steering control.
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Last August, Ford said it was recalling 355,000 2005-2011 of those same cars for rust-related defects that were sold in “salt-belt” states.
During the last two years, Ford has also recalled 2004-2007 Ford Freestars and Mercury Montereys last year for rust issues. In 2012, the company recalled 1.2 million 1997-2003 Ford F-150s because the supports holding the gas tanks in place could rust so badly the tanks would simply fall off the trucks.
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The Escapes affected by the subframe problem were sold or are registered in Michigan and other states in the Midwest and Northeast, and in eastern Canada. All are in the “salt belt” where salt is used to melt ice on roads. Dealers will install a reinforcement crossbrace, according to the News.
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In the second action, Ford recalled 48,950 Ford Fusion, Lincoln MKZ, Ford Escape and C-MAX vehicles from model years 2013-2014 to replace non-compliant seatback frames. There are 42,972 vehicles that fall under the recall in the U.S and 4,744 in Canada. Dealers will replace the seatback frames on affected vehicles.