Safety Regulators Close Ford, Hyundai Auto Defect Probes

U.S. safety regulators closed an investigation into defective engine cables in more than 467,000 Ford Taurus and Mercury Sable cars after Ford Motor Co. said it would fix the problem without issuing a recall.

Damaged speed control cables on Taurus and Sable cars from the 2000 through 2003 model years with Duratec engines failed to enable the driver to brake properly, the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said in documents posted this week. The cables can become damaged during underhood maintenance, such as replacing the battery or changing the air filter.

NHTSA called off the investigation, which started last October, after Ford said on June 21 it would inspect and repair all affected models. The repair program will run through Aug. 31, and there is no mileage limit.

Ford will also reimburse drivers if they’ve paid for similar repairs in the past, according to NHTSA documents. The refunds will be offered through the end of the year.

There were no fatalities or injuries reported as a result of the defect, but NHTSA said there were 100 complaints and five accidents reported due to the issue with the speed control.