Ford is recalling 424,000 Escapes in the U.S.

Ford Escapes from the 2001-2004 model years with 3-liter, V6 engines are affected by the recall. Ford Motor Co. is recalling 424,000 Escapes in the United States because a cruise control defect may cause the throttle to stick, leading to unintended acceleration. The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced it was investigating the safety defect July 17, based on 99 complaints, including 13 crashes and the death of a 17-year-old Arizona girl. The worldwide recall covers SUVs from the 2001 through 2004 model years, Marcey Zwiebel, a Ford spokeswoman, said in a telephone interview. Almost 424,000 U.S. vehicles with three-liter, six-cylinder engines will be covered under the recall, according to documents Ford provided to NHTSA. There's inadequate clearance between the engine cover and a control cable in those models, Ford said. For the 2001-2004 model year recall, there also are about 35,000 vehicles in Canada, 19,000 in Mexico, 4,500 in Europe and 4,300 in other regions, Ford said. In Europe, the model is called the Maverick. It wasn't immediately known if the Escape's assembly line sibling, the Mazda Tribute, also would be recalled. Mazda has been working "hand-in-hand with Ford and NHTSA" on the stuck throttle investigation but as of this afternoon had not issued a recall of the Tribute SUVs from 2001-2004, said a company spokesman. Affected owners will be notified by mail and instructed to take their SUVs to a Ford or Lincoln dealer, the company said. The notices will go out beginning August 6, Ford said. The U.S. safety regulator's investigation remains open, pending the agency's review of the documents provided by Ford in its recall action, Karen Aldana, a NHTSA spokeswoman, said in an e-mailed statement. Continued monitoring "NHTSA will continue to monitor any future issues involving a stuck throttle or unintended acceleration in these vehicles to ensure there are no additional safety risks that warrant further action," Aldana said. The U.S. investigation followed a July 10 letter from Clarence Ditlow, executive director of the Center for Automotive Safety in Washington, to Ford CEO Alan Mulally, asking him to recall all Escapes from model years 2002 to 2004 for what he called a "lethal cruise control cable defect." Escapes from the 2002 model year have been the subject of eight previous NHTSA investigations, according to the agency's database. Some of the vehicles have been recalled for engine stalling, an electrical short in the antilock brake system and leaking brake fluid. Ford also recalled 11,500 2013 Escapes July 19 because fuel lines were at risk of leaking, causing an engine fire. Toyota Motor Corp. recalled millions of U.S. autos in 2009 and 2010 for unintended acceleration, replacing floor mats at risk of jamming accelerators and sticky gas pedals. The Toyota City, Japan-based company paid a record $48.8 million in fines for how some of the recalls were conducted.

GM recalls 475,418 Chevy Cruze for engine shield

General Motors Co is recalling 475,418 of its popular compact Chevrolet Cruze sedans to modify the under-engine shield so flammable liquids are not trapped in the engine compartment, the automaker said on Friday. The recall covers 2011 and 2012 Cruze sedans that were built at GM's Lordstown, Ohio plant from September 2010 through May 2012. The recall affects 413,418 vehicles sold in the United States, 61,299 in Canada and 701 in Israel. Cruze models sold around the world that were made at plants other than the Lordstown one do not have the same design and are not believed to have the same issue, a GM spokesman said. But about 10,000 Chevy Cruze sedans sold by GM's Australian unit, Holden, may be affected and Holden is looking into the issue, the GM spokesman said. The engine shield on the models affected has the potential to trap engine fluids and raise the risk of a fire, GM said. GM said no crashes or injuries have been reported in relation to the issue. Owners will begin getting recall notices in mid-July. A fix of the problem will take about a half hour at a Chevrolet dealership, GM said.

Chrysler recalls small Jeeps to fix gas valves

Chrysler is recalling about 1,700 small Jeeps because faulty gas tank valves can cause fires.

The recall affects some 2012 all-wheel-drive Jeep Compass and Patriot SUVs.

Chrysler says the valves were damaged when the manufacturer tested them for leaks.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says the valves can leak gasoline if the SUVs are involved in a crash. Chrysler says it doesn't know of any fires or injuries.

The recall is expected to start in June. Dealers will replace the fuel tanks free of charge.

Owners with questions can call Chrysler at (800) 853-1403.

BMW recalls 1.3 million cars worldwide for battery cable issue

BMW AG is recalling about 1.3 million cars for repair worldwide due to a possible problem with a battery cable cover in the car boot, the carmaker said today.

The recall affects 5- and 6-Series BMWs built between 2003 and 2010, BMW said in a statement.

The recall affects about 367,000 vehicles in the United States and 290,000 in Germany, BMW said.

"In some remote cases, the battery cable cover inside the boot of these vehicles may be incorrectly mounted," it said.

"This can result in the electrical system malfunctioning, the vehicle failing to start and, in some cases, to charring or fire," the company said, adding it was not aware of any accidents or injuries to people due to the problem.

BMW said it was writing to car owners. The repair procedure in a BMW partner workshop would take about 30 minutes and would be free of charge to customers, it added.