2001 Ford Escape Recall

A safety defect may exist in vehicles in which remanufactured automatic transmissions were installed as service replacement parts. The shift lever bolt may not have been torqued to the proper torque specification. If the improperly torqued shift level bolt loosens and backs out, the shift lever may disengage from the transmission without warning, and the transmission may not respond to the shifter selection movement by the operator. This could result in the loss of transmission gear selection, and possible unintended vehicle movement, which would increase the risk of a crash causing injury and/or property damage. Correction: Dealers will inspect, and if necessary, replace the shift lever assembly and/or the shift level bolt torqued to the proper specification.

A failure of this component (powertrain) may increase the risk of a crash or injury.

Authorized dealerships will inspect the vehicle and complete all necessary repairs free of charge (parts and labor).

On certain vehicles registered and operated in areas where road salt is used on the roadways during winter months for extended time periods (Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland-Labrador), the forward attachment point for the lower control arm may separate from the vehicle's subframe. This could affect vehicle handling and increase the risk of a crash causing injury and/or property damage. Correction: Dealers will install a newly designed reinforcement cross-brace.

A failure of this component (suspension) may increase the risk of a crash or injury.

Authorized dealerships will inspect the vehicle and complete all necessary repairs free of charge (parts and labor).

On certain vehicles equipped with a 3.0L V6 engine and speed control, inadequate clearance between the engine cover and the speed control cable connector could result in a stuck throttle when the accelerator pedal is fully or almost-fully depressed. A stuck throttle may result in very high vehicle speeds and make it difficult to slow or stop the vehicle if the transmission is not shifted into neutral. This could result in a crash causing property damage and/or personal injury. Correction: Dealers will replace the rear engine cover fastener, which will raise the cover in the area of the speed control cable to provide adequate clearance between the cover the speed control cable connector.

A failure of this component (other) may increase the risk of a crash or injury.

Authorized dealerships will inspect the vehicle and complete all necessary repairs free of charge (parts and labor).

Certain vehicles may have been originally equipped with a brake master cylinder reservoir cap that could leak. If brake fluid leaks from the cap, it could come in contact with the ABS module wiring harness connector. The same vehicles were previously involved in campaign 2007107 to address potentially missing or misplaced seals in the wiring harness connector to the ABS module electronic control unit. If this repair wasn’t done correctly, brake fluid leaking from the reservoir cap could corrode the ABS module electrical connector. This could result in vehicle fire causing property damage and/or personal injury. Correction: Dealers will replace the brake master cylinder reservoir cap and modify the ABS electrical system. Note: Owners are advised to park the vehicle outdoors until the remedy is applied.

A failure of this component (brakes) may increase the risk of a crash or injury.

Authorized dealerships will inspect the vehicle and complete all necessary repairs free of charge (parts and labor).

On certain vehicles, the electrical wiring connector to the ABS module may have been manufactured incorrectly. Over time, contaminants can enter the ABS electrical connector interface and corrode the terminals. This could cause the ABS warning indicator to illuminate, an open fuse, and in some instances, smoking, melting or burning of the electrical connector, with the potential for a fire while the vehicle is unattended. In addition, ABS function may be lost. Correction: Dealers will inspect and, if required, repair the wiring connector.

A failure of this component (brakes) may increase the risk of a crash or injury.

Authorized dealerships will inspect the vehicle and complete all necessary repairs free of charge (parts and labor).

On certain vehicles equipped with a 3.0L V6 engine, during deceleration at vehicle speeds below 64 km/h, the engine may stall due to an excessively rich fuel-air mixture. Correction: Dealer will reprogram the Powertrain Control Module.

A failure of this component (engine) may increase the risk of a crash or injury.

Authorized dealerships will inspect the vehicle and complete all necessary repairs free of charge (parts and labor).

On certain vehicles, a post molded into the inside surface of the front safety belt buckle cover may fracture. The fractured buckle cover post may affect the buckle function and may exhibit either "no latch" - an overt condition as the tongue will not latch into the buckle, or "partial latch" - likely an overt condition because, although the tongue can be inserted into the buckle and appear to be engaged, it will release from the buckle without the push button being depressed when a relatively low load is applied such as when an occupant moves slightly in the seat. Correction: Dealer will replace both front safety belt buckle covers.

A failure of this component (seats and restraints) may increase the risk of a crash or injury.

Authorized dealerships will inspect the vehicle and complete all necessary repairs free of charge (parts and labor).

On certain vehicles, the windshield wiper linkage may disengage due to a cracked or fractured ball socket, which could potentially result in sudden and complete loss of windshield wiper function without prior warning. In adverse weather this condition could result in reduced driver visibility and a possible crash. Correction: Dealers will inspect and if necessary, replace the wiper assembly module.

A failure of this component (visual system) may increase the risk of a crash or injury.

Authorized dealerships will inspect the vehicle and complete all necessary repairs free of charge (parts and labor).

Certain vehicles may have been built with 4X4 rear hubs instead of instead of 4X2 hubs. If the incorrect hubs are are installed on a 4X2 vehicle, the rear wheels may loosen, or in some cases, separate from the vehicle. If this occurs, vehicle control may be adversely affected, which could result in a crash. Correction: Rear hubs will be inspected and replaced if necessary.

A failure of this component (suspension) may increase the risk of a crash or injury.

Authorized dealerships will inspect the vehicle and complete all necessary repairs free of charge (parts and labor).

On certain vehicles, the o-ring seals in the fuel line connector at the outlet end of the fuel filter may have been damaged when the line was connected to the filter during vehicle assembly. In some cases, the damage to the o-rings may result in a fuel odor, or possibly in fuel dripping from the connection. Fuel leakage in sufficient quantity in the presence of an ignition source could potentially result in a fire. Correction: Fuel line will be inspected and replaced if necessary.

A failure of this component (fuel system) may increase the risk of a crash or injury.

Authorized dealerships will inspect the vehicle and complete all necessary repairs free of charge (parts and labor).

On certain vehicles, the speed control cable may have a cracked speed control cable servo cap or may be missing a servo cap locating tab. The potential exists for the locating tab to enter the servo clutch cavity and interfere with the speed control servo pulley. This condition would not allow the throttle to return to idle when disengaging the speed control and a vehicle crash could occur. Correction: Vehicles will be inspected and speed control cable and servo will be replaced if necessary.

A failure of this component (engine) may increase the risk of a crash or injury.

Authorized dealerships will inspect the vehicle and complete all necessary repairs free of charge (parts and labor).

On certain vehicles, the nut that attaches the steering wheel assembly to the steering column may be upside down in the steering wheel assembly. This could overstress the steering column shaft when the nut is tightened. In addition, the nut may have been cracked during manufacture, which could result in the nut fracturing when it is tightened during vehicle assembly. Either of these conditions could potentially lead to the steering wheel becoming loose or separating from the steering column. This could result in loss of steering control and a crash without prior warning. Correction: Dealers will inspect and replace the steering wheel retention armature an, if necessary, the steering column will be replaced.

A failure of this component (steering) may increase the risk of a crash or injury.

Authorized dealerships will inspect the vehicle and complete all necessary repairs free of charge (parts and labor).