Ford to Recall 1.3 Million Cars for Pollution Flaw

Ford Motor Co. will recall almost 1.3 million cars that violate federal pollution-control standards due to a faulty part, the Environmental Protection Agency said today.

The agency said Ford will begin notifying owners of the problem July 24, starting with owners in California. Because of the large number of vehicles involved, the recall will be conducted in stages through February, 1990, the EPA said.

The cars have a faulty part in the fuel injector. Dealers will replace it free of charge with an improved fuel injector, the EPA said, and may be required to replace the catalytic converter, the exhaust gas sensor and the electronic engine control processor.

The agency said it discovered the fault, which causes excessive emissions of hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide, during testing of 1985 and 1986 model Fords.

The vehicles to be recalled are 364,000 1985 Ford 2.3-liter Mercury Tempo and Topaz; 339,000 1986 Ford 2.3-liter and 2.5-liter Tempo, Taurus, Taurus wagon, Topaz and Sable, and 579,000 Ford 2.3-liter, 2.5-liter and 1.9-liter Tempo, Taurus, Taurus wagon, Escort, Escort wagon, EXP, Topaz, Sable, Lynx and Lynx wagon of the 1987 model year.