Ford Recalls over 145,000 Vehicles

By Amy Teeple

Published on October 11, 2006

The first recall affects slightly more than 139,500 vehicles, including Ford’s 2005 Five Hundred sedan, 2005 Mercury Montego sedan, and 2005 and 2006 Freestar minivans. A defect may allow water to enter into the vehicles’ side door latch. In colder temperatures, the water could freeze, causing the latch mechanism to malfunction and the door to open while the sedans or minivans are in motion.

A separate Ford recall is affecting over 6,100 2006 Escape hybrid SUVs. The vehicles are being recalled because improper heat treatment during the vehicles' production created a fracture hazard of the intermediate drivetrain shaft. If the shaft fractures, the hybrid SUV could move, even when the transmission is in park.

Owners of vehicles listed in the recalls can bring them to a dealer for an inspection and correction of the defect. For more information, consumers may contact Ford at 800-392-3673 or visit the website http://www.safercar.gov/, provided by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

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