DETROIT (AP) — Ford Motor Co. says it has delayed shipment of several lines of four-wheel-drive sport-utility vehicles because of a faulty part produced by a supplier.
The vehicles affected are the Ford Explorer, Explorer Sport Trac, Expedition, F-150 below the 8500 size, and Lincoln Navigator, spokeswoman Della DiPietro said.
The problem with an electric motor was detected "earlier this winter." DiPietro declined to say how many vehicles needed to be repaired or which supplier built the motor.
Production at the eight plants that produce the four-wheel drive vehicles never was interrupted, she said, nor was this week's start of production of the new 2003 Expedition affected.
Repairs should be completed by the end of the month, and a recall would not be necessary, DiPietro said. She said vehicles are being shipped as they are repaired.
In last May's J.D. Power and Associates initial quality study, Ford had an average of 162 problems per 100 vehicles, the highest among the domestic automakers. General Motors Corp. had 146 per 100 vehicles. German-American automaker DaimlerChrysler AG vehicles had an average of 154.