Dow Jones Newswires | Ford Motor Co. is recalling 33,256 vehicles
to fix a problem with front seat recliners in some of its 2010 models
of Fusion and Mercury Milan sedans as well as several Explorer, Explorer
Sport Trac and Mercury Mountaineer SUVs, the automaker said Friday.

Some of the vehicles failed to meet the requirements of the federal
motor-vehicle safety standard. “In the event of a crash, the seatback
and head restraint may move rearward, increasing the risk of injury,”
according to the recall notice posted by the National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration.

The affected models were built between December 2009 and this February before a quality problem with the seat part was discovered at the plant, according to Ford spokesman Wes Sherwood. The Fusion is one of Ford’s best selling cars, with 51,411 sold since the beginning of the year.

Ford will send letters to owners in May. They can bring in their vehicles for repair at a Ford service center after that, Sherwood said.

In February, Ford separately announced it would fix software in 2010 Fusion and Mercury Milan hybrids to cure a problem that can make drivers believe the brakes have lost stopping power.

Ford’s move followed a disclosure by Consumer Reports that its testers had experienced a loss of braking power while driving a Fusion, with brake system warning lights illuminated. The car coasted to a stop, Consumer Reports said, and after the driver switched the engine off and restarted it the car returned to normal.