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Ford Recalls Over 1 Million Vehicles

30 October 1997

Ford Announces Vehicle Campaigns

    DETROIT, Oct. 30 -- Ford Motor Company today
announced a series of voluntary safety recalls covering approximately 1.1
million vehicles.  Ford is not aware of any accidents or injuries related to
any of these concerns.  The recalls affect the following vehicles:

    *  Approximately 973,000 1997 and 1998 Ford F-150, F-250 and Expedition
       and Lincoln Navigator vehicles.

    *  Approximately 3,600 1994-1997 F-700 trucks equipped with the 7.0-liter
       liquefied petroleum gas engine or the 7.0-liter gasoline engine and
       optional cab floor pan reinforcements.

    *  Approximately 2,600 1992-1995 Ford medium trucks and buses equipped
       with 160 horsepower 5.9-liter diesel engines.

    *  Approximately 2,300 1996 Ford Explorer and 1997 Mercury Mountaineer
       vehicles

    *  Approximately 69,100 1995 Ford Escort and Mercury Tracer vehicles.

    *  Approximately 700 1994 Ford L-Series trucks.

    *  Certain 1997 and 1998 Ford F-150, F-250, Expedition and Lincoln
Navigator vehicles are being recalled for a transmission shift cable concern.
On certain vehicles, the shift cable may not be fully seated and may detach
from the steering column bracket, or the shift cable may separate at the
transmission end bracket fitting.  If either of these conditions were to
occur, drivers may not be able to shift transmission gears or correctly
determine the transmission gear position using the gear selector indicator.
This could lead to unintended vehicle movement and also could prevent the
vehicle from being restarted.  There have been no accidents or injuries
attributed to this condition.  Approximately 973,000 vehicles are affected, of
which 74,000 are located in Canada.

    *  Certain 1994-1997 F-700 trucks equipped with the 7.0-liter liquefied
petroleum gas (LPG) engine or the 7.0-liter gasoline engine and optional cab
floor pan reinforcements are being recalled for a wiring concern.  Certain
vehicles may be susceptible to wire cable pinching between the cab
reinforcement and the frame, resulting in abrasion and a potential short
circuit.  Approximately 3,600 vehicles are affected, of which 120 are located
in Canada.

    *  Certain 1992-1995 Ford medium trucks and buses equipped with 160
horsepower 5.9-liter diesel engines are being recalled to replace the
accelerator return system.  On certain vehicles, the accelerator return
springs may fracture and may not fully return the accelerator pedal to idle.
Approximately 2,600 vehicles are affected, of which 300 are located in Canada.
    *  Certain 1996 Ford Explorer and 1997 Mercury Mountaineer vehicles are
being recalled for a liftgate cylinder bracket weld concern.  Some of the
vehicles may have undersized welds on the right gas assist attachment bracket
which could lead to its separation from the vehicle body.  This potentially
could cause the liftgate to fall; however, there have been no reports of this
occurring.  Approximately 2,300 vehicles are included in this action.

    *  Certain 1995 Ford Escort and Mercury Tracer vehicles are being recalled
for a fuel tank concern.  Some vehicles may develop fuel tank cracks near the
heat shield attachment in very hot areas of the country.  These cracks could
result in fuel leakage.  This action affects vehicles in 13 hot-weather states
and includes approximately 69,100 Escort and Tracer vehicles.  There have been
no reports of accidents, fires or injuries attributed to this condition.

    *  Certain 1994 Ford L-Series trucks are being recalled for an air brake
reservoir assembly concern.  Some of the vehicles may experience separation
along the weld seam of the primary or secondary air reservoir.  In some cases,
this could result in the release of compressed air in the reservoir which
could cause damage to the cab floor and could potentially result in personal
injury.  This condition also could result in loss of air supply to a portion
of the brake system; however, the vehicle still can be brought to a stop.
Approximately 700 vehicles are affected, of which 100 are in Canada.

    Owners of affected vehicles are being notified by first-class mail and
requested to return their vehicles to their dealers for inspection and
appropriate repair procedures.  All work will be completed at no expense to
owners.

SOURCE  Ford Motor Company