Ford To Recall Thousands Of Cop Cars
"(CBS) DETROIT Last week, Ford announced recalling models of its 2003 pickup and vans for a cruise control switch problem.
Now, Ford announced it will begin recalling Crown Victoria police cars of certain 2003-2005 models numbering to as many as 109,664. The car model was found to acquire cracks in their steel wheels that could lead to air loss in tires during high-speed car chases.
The defects have reportedly only been seen in a small percentage of the wheels.
Daniel C. Smith, Ford's associate director for safety assurance, said in a letter to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that the wheels were previously covered by an extended warranty program.
Ford spokesman Dan Jarvis said police departments have already reported two crashes caused by the wheel problem although the company is disputing those claims. The crashes did not cause any injuries, said Jarvis.
According to the NHTSA, the cracks can form near the weld line that connects the rim to the wheel disk.
Ford reasons that the stress forced on the wheels during pursuits is greater because of police techniques.
By next week, dealers will be able to replace the wheels and spares based on the wheel part numbers of the Crown Victoria cars.
The company said car owners will be notified of the recall."
Source: http://cbs2.com/business/finance_story_067121436.html
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