Ford Motor Company issued its fourth recall on the Ford Escape in less than two months. The newest, but consistent string of "Escape" recalls, is focused around a fuel line leakage (recall 00S27). The affected models were produced from October 1999 though September 1, 2000, or nearly every Escape currently on the road and on dealers' lots.

 The recall is due to a fuel line connector whose o-rings located at the outlet end of the fuel filter may have been damaged during assembly.

Here's the Other Recall:

 Ford Motor Company will announce the third recall of the 2001 Ford Escape that will impact 2001 4x2 models without ABS that were built from October 27, 1999 all the way though August 28, 2000. According to sources some 4x2 Escapes were built with 4x4 rear wheel hubs. Ford documents state "This misbuild condition may cause the rear wheels to become loose or separate from the vehicle. This could adversely affect vehicle control and could potentially lead to a vehicle crash." The third emergency stop sale reads like the previous two stating "Do not drive, demonstrate, deliver or perform pre-delivery inspection on any vehicles affected by this recall until this inspection has been performed."

 Owners are urged to immediately take their Escape to a Ford dealer to see if their model is effected by the emergency notice. Owners who visually inspect their Escape and determine it to be under this recall are instructed to have the "dealer is to transport the vehicle to the dealership for repair - it must only be transported on roll-back style wrecker. It may not be driven or towed."

Ford Motor Co. has begun its fifth and largest recall on the Escape, a compact sport-utility vehicle launched this summer. The recall covers 51,000 Escapes, including 27,500 that have been delivered to customers, who are to be notified by letter in mid-December. Ford hopes to complete the recall a few weeks later. Inspections and any necessary repairs will be performed at no charge.

On Nov. 17, Ford found a problem with the windshield wiper linkage, which it attributes to a supplier's manufacturing flaw. Some sockets were cracked, and rivets were sometimes missing. Ford expects it will have to replace linkages in less than 6 percent of the vehicles. But all need to be inspected. The Escape was introduced at Detroit's 2000 North American International Auto Show, taking aim at the Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR-V.

07 AUG 00