Ford puts police Territorys under arrest

FORD has recalled 302 police-special Territory SUVs after feedback from various Australian police forces that the driver’s footwell trim can interfere with the accelerator pedal.

The company’s safety recall notice says: “Interference with the accelerator pedal travel could result in the engine not returning to idle, posing a potential crash hazard.”

No crashes or other incidents have been reported from the problem which affects only SZ Territorys fitted with extra electrical equipment and built between April 11 last year and May 24 this year.

Ford Australia public affairs director Sinead Phipps said the problem stemmed from extra wiring that had to be fitted to police vehicles.

She said the wiring caused the trim beside the footwell to bulge, potentially interfering with the accelerator pedal.

Ms Phipps said all the relevant police forces had been informed of the issue, and requested to bring their vehicles in for a 20-minute fix.

She said the repair involved reworking the wiring to prevent it pressing on the trim.