2/23/2012 - Ford recalls 539,000 vehicles

Leading automaker Ford recently announced several safety recalls that will impact approximately 539,000 vehicles worldwide.

According to Ford spokesman Dan Pierce, Ford will recall 286,000 Ford Escape SUVs for model years 2001 and 2002. It will also recall 253,000 Ford Freestar and Mercury Monterey minivans for model years 2004 and 2005.

The automaker indicates that some of these SUVs and minivans were furnished with faulty brake master cylinder reservoir caps which can leak brake fluid. As a result it could lead to smoke or a fire if there's an electrical short involving the anti-lock brake system. "While the potential for fire is low, it is recommended that a customer park their vehicle outdoors away from structures until this recall repair is performed," Pierce relayed to Reuters in an email.

The problem parts are reported to have been built between 1999 and 2002 at a factory that is not longer in operation, according to The Associated Press.