Ford Motor Co. (F) said it is voluntarily recalling about 8,300 of its compact cross over 2013 Escapes in US because of a mispositioned carpet padding that could trouble the driver's braking.
In its statement to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Ford noted that the mispositioned carpet padding may result in the carpet and center console trim panel being pushed outboard, reducing clearance relative to the pedal package.
The reduced clearance can result in the driver's foot contacting side of the brake pedal while transferring the foot from accelerator to brake, thus potentially increasing stopping distances and the risk of an accident.
The recall of 8,266 Escapes involves those manufactured between March 8 and June 7, 2012. The vehicles in question were built on Ford's Louisville Assembly plant.
Dearborn, Michigan-based Ford said its dealers will remove the carpet padding and replace the left-side console trim panel, which has a revised surface contour, free of cost.
Ford said the problem was first reported by an employee, and the company has not received any field reports on the issue.
F is currently trading on the NYSE at $9.28, up $0.01 0.11% on a volume of 13.9 million shares.
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