Ford executives pose with the latest Ford Mondeo(Photo: Peter Dejong/ AP)
Ford Motor is opting not to recall vehicles in Europe with the same
1.6-liter EcoBoost turbocharged engine that is the focus of a recall in
the U.S.
"We conducted a thorough investigation of the vehicles in
Europe with the 1.6-liter engine and determined there is no similar
issue in Europe and no need for recall," Ford of Europe spokesman Mark
Truby tells USA TODAY.
Ford reported earlier this week that it was
probing seven fires in vehicles in Europe equipped with the engine. On
Friday, it ordered the recall of 73,320 2013 Ford Escape crossovers and
15,833 Fusion sedans in the U.S. with the fuel-saving engine after 12
fires were reported.
Owners of U.S. are being told to contact
their dealers for loaner vehicles until Ford figures out what is causing
overheating, and the subsequent fires, and comes up with a solution.
The
engine under scrutiny is still being made in a United Kingdom factory.
More than 80,000 have been made there since 2010 in six vehicles lines
-- Ford Focus, C-Max, C-Max Grand, Mondeo, Galaxy and S-Max. Yet
engineer there determined the fires didn't appear connected and no
recall is deemed necessary.
In the U.S., Ford says in a letter to
the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that drivers received
warning on their vehicles' instrument panels that their cars were
overheating before the fire began. No injuries have been reported.
USA Today