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U.S. regulators step up probe of Ford Focus
DETROIT, Nov 5 (Reuters) - U.S. vehicle safety regulators have stepped up their investigation into another reported defect involving Ford Motor Co.'s (nyse: F - news - people) troubled Focus compact car, citing complaints of stalling engines.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said on Tuesday it had raised a preliminary investigation into the engine problem to the level of an "engineering analysis," a step that often precedes a recall.
Ford said on Monday it was recalling about 572,795 Focus vehicles from the 2000 and 2001 model years in North America because of problems with a bolt in the front suspension assembly and improperly installed battery cables that can catch fire on models equipped with Zetec engines.
The engine stalling issue is not related to those separate safety recalls, however.
NHTSA said Ford had received 3,274 complaints about the Focus engine problem and added that the stalling had allegedly caused 16 crashes and three injuries.
"The data analysis conducted during the PE (preliminary evaluation) indicates the Focus will stall at all speeds without notice," the government agency said.
The problem was originally thought to involve about 573,585 Focuses from the 2000 and 2001 model years, but NHTSA said it was broadening the scope of its investigation because of complaints about 2002 models as well.
Ford has sought to burnish its quality image as part of a turnaround effort after posting a $5.45 billion loss last year, and it contends it has now fixed many problems with the Focus. But with Monday's announcement it has now issued 11 safety recalls for the vehicle since its introduction in 1999.
Separately, NHTSA said it had also upgraded an investigation into thousands of complaints about engines stalling without warning on Ford's Escape compact sport utility vehicle and the Tribute SUV sold by Ford's Mazda subsidiary.
The complaints involve vehicles from the 2001 and 2002 model years, NHTSA said.
Adding to a litany of vehicle safety and quality issues at Ford, NHTSA said it had also opened an engineering analysis into complaints of engine compartment fires stemming from alleged defects in a speed control deactivation switch on several full-size Ford sedans.
About 1.8 million Town Car, Crown Victoria and Grand Marquis sedans from the 1992-1997 model years were the target of that investigation, NHTSA said.
A spokesman for Ford said the world's No. 2 automaker was aware of the NHTSA investigations and cooperating with safety regulators.
DETROIT, Nov 5 (Reuters) - U.S. vehicle safety regulators have stepped up their investigation into another reported defect involving Ford Motor Co.'s (nyse: F - news - people) troubled Focus compact car, citing complaints of stalling engines.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said on Tuesday it had raised a preliminary investigation into the engine problem to the level of an "engineering analysis," a step that often precedes a recall.
Ford said on Monday it was recalling about 572,795 Focus vehicles from the 2000 and 2001 model years in North America because of problems with a bolt in the front suspension assembly and improperly installed battery cables that can catch fire on models equipped with Zetec engines.
The engine stalling issue is not related to those separate safety recalls, however.
NHTSA said Ford had received 3,274 complaints about the Focus engine problem and added that the stalling had allegedly caused 16 crashes and three injuries.
"The data analysis conducted during the PE (preliminary evaluation) indicates the Focus will stall at all speeds without notice," the government agency said.
The problem was originally thought to involve about 573,585 Focuses from the 2000 and 2001 model years, but NHTSA said it was broadening the scope of its investigation because of complaints about 2002 models as well.
Ford has sought to burnish its quality image as part of a turnaround effort after posting a $5.45 billion loss last year, and it contends it has now fixed many problems with the Focus. But with Monday's announcement it has now issued 11 safety recalls for the vehicle since its introduction in 1999.
Separately, NHTSA said it had also upgraded an investigation into thousands of complaints about engines stalling without warning on Ford's Escape compact sport utility vehicle and the Tribute SUV sold by Ford's Mazda subsidiary.
The complaints involve vehicles from the 2001 and 2002 model years, NHTSA said.
Adding to a litany of vehicle safety and quality issues at Ford, NHTSA said it had also opened an engineering analysis into complaints of engine compartment fires stemming from alleged defects in a speed control deactivation switch on several full-size Ford sedans.
About 1.8 million Town Car, Crown Victoria and Grand Marquis sedans from the 1992-1997 model years were the target of that investigation, NHTSA said.
A spokesman for Ford said the world's No. 2 automaker was aware of the NHTSA investigations and cooperating with safety regulators.
Ford has its own class of toughness.
