Ford F-150, Escape defect probes closed by U.S. regulator

Investigations into safety defects in Ford F-150, Escape and Mercury Mariner vehicles were closed without additional recalls, the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said.

The auto-safety regulator ended probes into the 1997 to 2004 F-150 pickup trucks and 2010-2011 Escape and Mariners, according to a report posted today on its Web site.

Ford Motor Co. last month recalled some F-150s voluntarily for fuel-tank strap corrosion. The investigation into the Escapes and Mariners was for rear lift-gate window defects.

The agency, in its monthly report of closed investigations, also rejected a request to investigate Toyota Motor Corp. model-year 2008 Corolla cars for front air bags that may not deploy.