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February 2005 >02/06/05
Accident Reconstruction
News Article
Ford Recalling Nearly
359,000 Focus Cars
DETROIT (Reuters) - Ford Motor Co. (NYSE:F
- News) is recalling nearly 359,000 of its Focus cars because of a potential
problem with their rear door latches, U.S. federal safety regulators said
on Sunday.
The recall, announced on the Web site of the National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration, is the second high-profile safety problem
the No. 2 U.S. automaker has faced this year.
NHTSA said the problem, involving 358,857 vehicles from the
2000-2002 model years, stemmed from a build-up of corrosion around the rear
door latches which can eventually prevent them from ensuring the doors are
secure.
"If not latched properly, the door may open while the
vehicle is in motion," NHTSA said, warning of potential injuries.
The recall follows an even bigger embarrassment for Ford late
last month. On Jan. 27, it was announced that the automaker was recalling
about 792,000 top-selling pickup trucks, sport utility vehicles and minivans
because of possible fire risks from the overheating of their cruise control
switches.
Separately, NHTSA said on Sunday the Chrysler arm of DaimlerChrysler
AG (NYSE:DCX - News; XETRA:DCXGn.DE - News) was recalling about 26,000 of
its Dodge Durango SUVs because of potential fuel leaks from the filler necks
of their gas tanks.
"Fuel leakage in the presence of an ignition source can
result in a fire," the agency said.
Vehicles affected by the recall are from the 2005 model year.
Chrysler announced the recall of about 600,000 Durango SUVs
and Dodge Dakota pickup trucks from the 2000-2003 model years in December
because of a defect that might cause their wheels to fall off.
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