Ford Announces AUI & AUII Falcon Recall

IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Ford Announces AUI & AUII Falcon Recall

AUCKLAND, New Zealand, Thursday 17 June

Ford New Zealand is voluntarily recalling 13,362 AUI and AUII Falcon models, built between June 1 1998 and May 22 2001, to verify the integrity of a steering rack mounting stud.

Vehicle models affected include Forte, Futura, XR, Fairmont, Fairlane, LTD, FTE and Ute models built during this period. A change in manufacturing process ensures that vehicles built after May 22 2001 are not affected.

Ford believes that over-tightening of the steering rack mounting stud during service could lead to a condition that allows the stud to loosen. In extreme cases, the stud may detach and result in deterioration or loss of steering control.

The Australian equivalent of New Zealand's LTSA - DOTARS (Department of Transport and Regional Services) has reported only two cases of loose studs and one case of a missing stud, and Ford's own data has identified a further 28 vehicles which may have experienced this concern – from a total of 233,791 manufactured.

No accidents or injuries have been reported as a result of this condition, and there are no reported cases in New Zealand.

Ford New Zealand is voluntarily instigating the recall to check that the concern is not more widespread, and will be contacting customers via mail to advise of the required action. A free phone number has also been set up to answer any customer queries – this number is 0800 15 16 17.

The check and any necessary rectification will be carried out free of charge.

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Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures and distributes automobiles in 200 markets across six continents. With more than 328,000 employees worldwide, the company’s automotive brands include Aston Martin, Ford, Jaguar, Land Rover, Lincoln, Mazda, Mercury and Volvo. Its automotive-related services include Ford Credit, Quality Care and Hertz. Ford Motor Company celebrated its 100th anniversary on June 16, 2003.

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