Recall Alert: 2004-05 Ford Freestar, Mercury Monterey

Ford is recalling 205,896 Ford Freestar and Mercury Monterey minivans from the 2004-05 model years because the torque converter output shaft may fail, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

If the shaft fails, the driver may experience a sudden loss of motive power without warning, increasing the risk of a crash.

Ford or Lincoln dealers will replace the torque converter for free. The recall is expected to begin in the spring because the parts needed for repairs will not be available until then. Owners can call Ford at 866-436-7332 or NHTSA’s vehicle safety hotline at 888-327-4236 for more info.

Recall Alert: 2010-11 Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan

Ford is recalling 128,616 2010-11 Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan vehicles with 17-inch steel wheels because the wheel studs may fracture, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

In the affected vehicles, multiple stud fractures could occur at the wheel location, and the driver may experience vehicle vibration or wheel separation, increasing the risk of a crash. The recalled vehicles were built between April 1 and April 30, 2009, and Dec. 1, 2009, and Nov. 13, 2010. You can see when your car was built by checking a label affixed to the driver-side doorjamb.

Owners will be notified the week of Jan. 24. Dealers will inspect the rear brake disc surface and replace the discs at no charge if necessary. The lug nuts will be replaced on all four wheels as well. Owners can call Ford at 866-436-7332 or NHTSA’s vehicle safety hotline at 888-327-4236 for more info.

Recall Alert: 2007 Ford Five Hundred, 2007 Mercury Montego

Ford is recalling 2,945 Five Hundred and Mercury Montego sedans from the 2007 model year because the welding between the fuel tank and fuel filler neck spud may be weak, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

In the affected vehicles, which were built between Sept. 5 and 11, 2006, the fuel tank spud welds may not provide enough strength in the event of a severe rear impact. An improper weld could create a crack in the joint. If the joint cracks, the emissions malfunction indicator light may illuminate, and the driver may smell fuel. Gas may also leak and cause a fire if an ignition source is present.

The recall is expected to begin Aug. 15. Dealers will replace the fuel tank for free. Owners can call Ford at 866-436-7332 or NHTSA’s vehicle safety hotline at 888-327-4236.

2011 Kia Optima Earns Five-Star NHTSA Rating

The 2011 Kia Optima received an overall rating of five stars in the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s new crash-test rating system, the agency announced today.

Read Cars.com's Full Review of the 2011 Kia Optima

The Optima’s overall composite score is composed of a five-star frontal, five-star rollover and a five-star rating for the combined side pole and barrier tests. The side barrier test is an area where other vehicles have shown weakness with the safety agency’s new testing format. The side pole test simulates a 20-mph side-impact crash into a 10-inch-diameter pole or tree at a 75-degree angle just behind the A-pillar on the driver’s side.

Incentives on Defunct Mercury Brand Tick Upward

Retail production of Mercury vehicles ceased nearly a month ago, and now Ford is getting down to the business of ridding itself of any leftover inventory for the defunct brand. The remaining Mercury dealerships are on a deadline to move the metal before the end of 2010 when their Mercury franchise agreements will be terminated.

To flush out the remaining inventory, Ford has increased retail incentives for the Mercury brand drastically for November. Until this month, the 2010 and 2011 Milan, Milan Hybrid and Mariner all offered $2,000 cash on the hood, which was the same as its Ford counterparts. Now all three have up to $3,500 on the hood, nearly 60% more money back than what’s offered on the identical Ford Fusion and Escape. The 2010 and 2011 Grand Marquis now get upward of $5,500 cash back.

The aggressive incentives are supposed to help Ford expedite the shutdown of Mercury by the Dec. 31 deadline, according to Automotive News. Ford spokesman George Pipas told Automotive News that there are fewer than 10,000 Mercurys left in the inventory, which amounts to a 35-day supply. Currently there are nearly 4,000 Mercurys on sale on Cars.com. Below you’ll find the remaining deals on all Mercury and Lincoln inventory. Most of these incentives are good until Dec. 31.

NHTSA Urges Owners to Fix Recalled Fords

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reiterated to Ford owners today to get their recalled vehicles fixed.

The recall in question was for faulty cruise control systems, which could catch fire even if the vehicle was turned off, parked and unattended. While 17.5 million vehicles were recalled, Ford and NHTSA say only 14 million of those vehicles are still on the roads today. Out of those vehicles, NHTSA estimates that there may be several million vehicles still on the road with the dangerous defect. There have been reports of homes catching on fire as a result of this defect.

Retail Mercury Production Ends This Sunday

Production of Mercury cars and SUVs for retail customers will end this Sunday, according to Ford. On that typical day of rest, the last retail 2011 Mercury Mariner will be built in Kansas City, Ford spokesman George Pipas said. Mercury production will continue until the end of the year, but those vehicles will go to fleet operators such as Hertz and others, not into customers’ hands.

With the end of retail production so near, you’d think incentives should be great on Mercury vehicles. But to the contrary, they’ve actually gotten worse.

Mercury's Inventory Shrinks as Brand Nears End

Since our last report, Mercury’s inventory on Cars.com has notched down slightly as the brand prepares for its disbanding by the end of the year. 

Cars.com’s national inventory for Mercury has dropped nearly 9% in the three weeks since we last reported on it. There are 4,611 vehicles available online. A greater portion of the inventory is now 2010 and 2011 models. 

This isn’t stale inventory, either, just in case you think dealerships aren’t updating their Mercury inventory on Cars.com. Forty percent of the Mercury vehicles on our site were posted since our last report, which means a bit more than 40% was also taken down during the same time. 

Meanwhile, incentives for buying a Mercury haven’t changed that much, except for an extra $500 in bonus cash for the 2010 Mercury Mountaineer. You can check out those incentives at the bottom of this post. It’s interesting that the 2011 Milan has nothing but $1,000 cash back, but that is the same promotion for the 2011 Ford Fusion, so I guess they’re trying not to step on anyone’s toes. 

In July, Ford built 4,105 new Mercury vehicles — 1,748 Mariners, 1,269 Grand Marquis, 787 Milans, and 301 Mountaineers — and Mercury still outsold Lincoln by nearly 20% in total volume in that same month. The constant attrition rate of Mercury inventory is a good reminder that the brand is still alive, at least for now. The last dealership orders for the Mercury brand will end sometime this month, according to Ford. After that, the automaker expects that most dealerships won’t have any new Mercury vehicles to sell beyond the end of 2010.  

No Big Incentives for Dying Mercury

If you thought the announcement that Ford will cease production of new Mercury cars and SUVs by the end of 2010 would lead to lavish incentives, you’d be wrong, at least as of today. Mercury’s current incentives, which are good through Oct. 4, include 0% financing for 60 months on the 2010 Milan plus $1,000 in bonus cash. This is a good deal, but it is not a fire sale.
 
Most of the inventory on Cars.com are 2010 models (4,699 vehicles out of 5,067), and we list each model’s current incentives below. We expect the overall inventory to decrease slowly as we get closer to the end of the year, despite the company still producing new cars. However, it’s unclear whether larger incentives will be offered.

Nine More Cars, SUVs Earn Top Safety Pick Status

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety added a new test for roof strength to its Top Safety Pick award requirements, so it takes more time to test every new car. As the institute continues to test new vehicles, new Top Safety Picks are named.
 
Today, IIHS announced nine new picks all from the 2010 model year, including some brands’ top sellers.

Ford did well with the Fusion sedan and its twins, the Lincoln MKZ and soon-to-be-put-to-pasture Mercury Milan, getting the nod. The large three-row crossover Ford Flex and its Lincoln MKT twin also earned the award.

The Audi A4 sedan and Q5 SUV joined the company’s smaller A3 as award winners. The Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen is the fourth VW, and the Hyundai Tucson became the third Hyundai to get the Top Safety Pick nod.

For those keeping score, Ford now has seven vehicles that have earned the award. Toyota and Lexus have six, Subaru and Chrysler five, GM and Volvo four, Kia three, Honda two, Mercedes-Benz two and Nissan one.