Ford recalls 130,000 cars from India

MUMBAI - The Associated Press

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Ford Motor’s Indian subsidiary is recalling nearly 130,000 of its most popular cars. The manufacturing defects date back as far as 2008 and can cause fire and other problems, the company said late on Aug. 13.

Ford said it would examine 111,000 Ford Figo and Classic models manufactured between January 2008 and December 2010 for a faulty rear twist beam, which can compromise brake performance and make the vehicle inoperable.

Ford will also replace a hose in 17,655 Figo and Classic cars produced between September 2010 and February 2011 as a precautionary measure. The company says oil can leak from the hose, resulting in noxious fumes, smoke and in extreme cases, fire.

The company said no injuries have occurred as a result of the defects. Like other global carmakers in India, Ford relies heavily on local suppliers to keep costs down.

Toyota, Tata Motors, Honda and Maruti Suzuki have all had to recall cars in India in recent years, though none has been as big as the Ford recall. Ford’s compact Figo, launched in 2010, made the American auto giant a real player in India’s competitive small car market. Ford has poured hundreds of millions of dollars into India, part of the company’s strategy to pursue growth in Asia.