ok89
Explorer Addict
- Joined
- June 11, 2001
- Messages
- 2,036
- Reaction score
- 3
- City, State
- College Station, TX (school) / Houston, TX (Home)
- Year, Model & Trim Level
- 02 Wrangler X
Ford suspends shipping of some SUVs and trucks
By Marcus Green
magreen@courier-journal.com
The Courier-Journal
Ford Motor Co. has temporarily suspended shipment of some pickups and sport utility vehicles,
including some Louisville-made Explorers, because of a faulty part in the four-wheel-drive systems,
the company confirmed last night.
Ford spokesman Ed Lewis said from Dearborn, Mich., that the Explorer is among five versions of
four-wheel-drive sport utility vehicles and trucks sidelined at eight North American plants until the
defect is fixed. Ford manufactures the Explorer at the Louisville Assembly Plant on Fern Valley Road
and at a plant near St. Louis.
The repair process is ''nearly complete'' and expected to be finished by the end of next week, Lewis
said. The repair work will not affect employment.
The problem concerns a flaw discovered in a part that connects to the transfer case on some
four-wheel-drive versions of the 2002 Ranger, Sport and Sport Trac Explorers, Expedition,
Navigator and F-Series SUVs and pickup trucks.
''There's been no production disruption, but we have some units that need to be reworked,'' Lewis
said.
Lewis believes the problem was noticed before any of the vehicles involved had been shipped,
thereby avoiding a recall.
Lewis could not say how many SUVs and trucks were sidetracked for repairs or when the defect was
discovered. But he noted that new models that were made with replacement parts have already been
shipped. ''We resumed shipping vehicles some time ago,'' he said.
Although some models of the popular F-Series truck were affected, none of the Super Duty versions
manufactured at the Kentucky Truck Plant on Chamberlain Lane were involved, Lewis said.
The economic impact of the part problem is not known, but it is the latest in a series of
well-documented troubles for the nation's second-largest automaker.
In January, the company announced a sweeping restructuring that will cut 35,000 jobs worldwide and
eliminate four poor selling models. That came on the heels of the protracted Firestone tire
controversy.
Executives have repeatedly stressed the need for Ford to rebuild its reputation for making quality
vehicles.
Part of the restructuring will include consolidation of Explorer assembly in Louisville, which is
expected to lead to the eventual shutdown of the Missouri plant.
http://www.courier-journal.com/business/news2002/03/22/bu032202s173774.htm
By Marcus Green
magreen@courier-journal.com
The Courier-Journal
Ford Motor Co. has temporarily suspended shipment of some pickups and sport utility vehicles,
including some Louisville-made Explorers, because of a faulty part in the four-wheel-drive systems,
the company confirmed last night.
Ford spokesman Ed Lewis said from Dearborn, Mich., that the Explorer is among five versions of
four-wheel-drive sport utility vehicles and trucks sidelined at eight North American plants until the
defect is fixed. Ford manufactures the Explorer at the Louisville Assembly Plant on Fern Valley Road
and at a plant near St. Louis.
The repair process is ''nearly complete'' and expected to be finished by the end of next week, Lewis
said. The repair work will not affect employment.
The problem concerns a flaw discovered in a part that connects to the transfer case on some
four-wheel-drive versions of the 2002 Ranger, Sport and Sport Trac Explorers, Expedition,
Navigator and F-Series SUVs and pickup trucks.
''There's been no production disruption, but we have some units that need to be reworked,'' Lewis
said.
Lewis believes the problem was noticed before any of the vehicles involved had been shipped,
thereby avoiding a recall.
Lewis could not say how many SUVs and trucks were sidetracked for repairs or when the defect was
discovered. But he noted that new models that were made with replacement parts have already been
shipped. ''We resumed shipping vehicles some time ago,'' he said.
Although some models of the popular F-Series truck were affected, none of the Super Duty versions
manufactured at the Kentucky Truck Plant on Chamberlain Lane were involved, Lewis said.
The economic impact of the part problem is not known, but it is the latest in a series of
well-documented troubles for the nation's second-largest automaker.
In January, the company announced a sweeping restructuring that will cut 35,000 jobs worldwide and
eliminate four poor selling models. That came on the heels of the protracted Firestone tire
controversy.
Executives have repeatedly stressed the need for Ford to rebuild its reputation for making quality
vehicles.
Part of the restructuring will include consolidation of Explorer assembly in Louisville, which is
expected to lead to the eventual shutdown of the Missouri plant.
http://www.courier-journal.com/business/news2002/03/22/bu032202s173774.htm
