September 8, 2001
It would be putting it mildly to say it hasn't been a good year for Ford. In the latest embarassment, the automaker announced that it will recall more than 1.1 million Windstar minivans, Mercury Cougar couples and Contour and Mystique sedans because of possible fire hazards.
The company says it has received 10 reports of the windshield wiper motor catching fire in 1999 and 2000 model Windstars. Small holes in the system can allow water, salt and road debris to clog the motor and start a fire. Some of the affected vans were recalled earlier because of a fire hazard involving the rear seat air conditioning system.
Ford is also recalling about 342,000 1996 through 1999 Contours, Mystiques and Cougaras because of a similar problem with the air conditioning system. There've been at least 27 fires reported in those models.
The company says it knows of no injuries resulting from any of the fires reported so far.
Just a few days earlier, Ford recalled nearly 200,000 1997-1998 Windstar vans sold in certain snow-belt states. It said the front springs could become corroded from salt and other chemicals used to melt snow and ice during the winter months.
The corrosion can weaken the springs and cause them to collapse.
Some owners of 1996 Windstars received letters informing them of a warranty extension in connection with a similar problem with the front springs.
