DEARBORN, Mich., and TORRANCE, Calif. -

As both American Honda and Honda Canada explained a recall of nearly 200,000 units, Ford discussed the second recall in a week for the 2013 Escape.

While the Blue Oval’s previous notice had to do with the Escape clearance for the gas pedal, Ford’s recall revealed on Thursday is even more severe as the automaker is asking owners to stop driving the unit equipped with a 1.6-liter engine built through July 11.

Ford estimates that there have been approximately 11,500 of these vehicles produced and distributed for sale in North America, with most in the U.S. market.
Ford is voluntarily recalling Escapes with 1.6-liter engines to replace an engine compartment fuel line, which could split and leak fuel, potentially resulting in an underhood fire.

OEM officials said no injuries have been reported. They added the issue does not affect other 2013 Escape models, and the condition also does not present itself in vehicles when the engine is not running.   

As an additional safety precaution, Ford recommended that customers who already own 2013 Escape vehicles with the 1.6-liter engine are being advised to stop driving their vehicles and to immediately contact a franchised dealer.

The company explained that franchised dealers have been instructed to deliver a loaner vehicle to these customers and will transport their 2013 Escape to the dealership for the necessary repairs.

The company is working to make parts available as quickly as possible and customers will keep the loaner vehicle at no charge until the repairs on their vehicle are completed. 

Furthermore, Ford said its franchised dealers will stop delivering or conducting demonstration drives of these vehicles so that proper steps can be taken to remedy the issue at the dealership first. 

“We have identified an issue and are taking quick actions in the best interest of our customers," said Ray Nevi, assistant director of the Ford Automotive Safety Office. "Our intensive investigation and testing has identified the area of concern and we are moving as quickly as possible to repair vehicles for our customers.

“In the meantime, it is extremely important that affected customers not ignore this recall and immediately contact their dealer,” Nevi added.

Nevi went on to say the repairs are straightforward and should take dealers less than an hour to complete, pending parts availability.

“If affected customers quickly take action and contact their dealers as advised, all vehicles can be remedied in less than two weeks,” he projected.

Customers may get further information about these and other recalls at www.fordowner.com or they can contact Ford’s Customer Relationship Center at (866) 436-7332.

Earlier this week, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced another Ford recall involving the 2013 Escape, a total of 8,266 units manufactured between March 8 and June 7.

Due to carpet padding placed in the incorrect spot, NHTSA indicated the center console trim panel may be pushed outboard of the intended position, reducing clearance relative to the pedal package.

Officials cautioned that the reduced clearance may result in the driver’s foot contacting the side of the brake pedal while transferring the foot from the accelerator pedal to the brake pedal, increasing stopping distances and the risk of a crash.

To correct the situation, Ford told NHTSA that franchised dealers will remove the carpet padding and left-side console trim panel replaced with a new panel free of charge.

Analysts React to Escape Recalls

Edmunds.com highlighted why these recalls involving the Escape are so important for Ford to handle. The site reported the Ford Escape was the second most considered model on the entire site last week.

Furthermore, Edmunds noted the Escape was the best-selling SUV for June and was the best-selling SUV among all sizes for 2011. Since 2006, site analysts determined the Escape is consistently in the top two.

Director of vehicle testing Dan Edmunds offered the following take: “Gasoline leaks are nothing to mess around with. And if the gas is leaking under the hood there’s even more danger because of all the heat sources that are under there.”

Senior analyst Michelle Krebs added her industry perspective: “Since the Escape is one of Ford’s highest volume models, it is critically important that it addresses the problem quickly and properly, which is what it appears to be is doing. It looks like Ford has learned the lessons of Toyota by jumping on this early and telling owners not to drive the Escape, but rather have the dealer bring it in for the fix.

“The Ford Escape plays in a competitive segment — a segment that it has at times dominated — but is now up against a strong competitor with the redesigned 2013 Honda CR-V, which also was recalled (Thursday) for a smaller issue,” Krebs went on to say.

Honda CR-V Recall

As Krebs mentioned, American Honda said on Thursday that it will voluntarily recall approximately 166,000 model-year 2012 CR-V vehicles and approximately 6,200 model-year 2013 Acura ILX vehicles in the United States. The reason is to replace both front door latches and, in some CR-V vehicles, the interior front door handles.

Meanwhile Honda Canada indicated it will recall approximately 20,920 model-year 2012 CR-V vehicles and approximately 800 model-year 2013 Acura ILX vehicles in Canada to fix the same issues.

OEM officials explained simultaneous operation of the driver’s or passenger’s inner door handle and either the manual or power door lock may result in the inner door handle release cable becoming partially disengaged. When this occurs, the automaker determined the door may not latch when closed and/or the door may latch and close, but then open when the door locks are operated; either case may result in the affected door opening unexpectedly.

Honda stressed that no accidents or injuries have been reported related to this issue.

Honda is announcing this recall to encourage owners of all affected vehicles to take their vehicles to an authorized franchised dealer as soon as they receive notification of this recall from Honda.

The company said mailed notification to customers will begin during the middle of next month.

In the meantime, owners of units in the U.S. can determine if their vehicles require repair by going on-line to www.recalls.honda.com and www.recalls.acura.com or by calling (800) 999-1009 for Honda owners or (800) 382-2238 for Acura owners, and selecting option No. 4.

Canadian owners can confirm if their vehicles are affected, and can obtain additional information, by going online after Friday at www.honda.ca/recalls and www.acura.ca/recalls, or by calling (888) 946-6329 for Honda owners or (888) 922-8729 for Acura owners.