DETROIT — Ford Motor co. said Wednesday it is recalling 538,000 vehicles in the US and globally on concerns that certain flaws could result in fire or loss of power.
Ford said it will recall 252,000 model-year 2004 and 2005 Ford Freestars and Mercury Monterey minivans for “possible loss of forward and reverse power due to a torque converter malfunction.”
The recall applies to 206,000 vehicles in the US, with nearly all the rest occurring in Canada and Mexico, the company said. Another 1,800 affected vehicles are outside North America.
Ford said affected vehicles remain “readily controllable” and that drivers can “safely” park the cars if they begin to coast.
The company said it was aware of two accident allegations from the problem over eight years. One of the accidents resulted in alleged “minor injuries.”
Ford also recalled 286,000 model-year 2001 and 2002 Ford Escape sport utility vehicles on a risk that corrosion in the anti-lock braking system of the vehicles could lead to an electrical short, and subsequently, smoke or fire.
Ford said it was not aware of any accidents or injuries from the problem.