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DETROIT >> Responding to consumer concerns about exhaust fumes, Ford is offering to inspect and repair Explorer SUVs at no cost to owners.
Ford maintains the vehicles are safe but said it’s making the repairs available in response to customer concerns about exhaust odors and carbon monoxide.
“Our investigation has not found carbon monoxide levels that exceed what people are exposed to every day,” Ford spokesman Mike Levine said.
Ford has sold more than 1.35 million Explorers since 2011, when the vehicle was redesigned and the exhaust problems began. The move announced Friday comes as the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration continues to investigate complaints of fumes and carbon monoxide leaking into the passenger cabins of police and consumer versions of the SUVs.
The company said it will send letters to owners of 2011 through 2017 Explorers starting the week of Nov. 13 telling them to take their SUVs to dealers for the work.
Ford will pay for the work regardless of mileage, age of the vehicles or whether they’re under warranty. It also will reimburse owners who previously paid for repair work, Levine said. The service will be available starting Nov. 1 through Dec. 31, 2018, Ford said.
ON THE MOVE
>> Central Pacific Bank has announced the appointment of Jason Mukaida to assistant vice president and Trust Service officer. Mukaida has 15 years of financial industry experience, including serving as an assistant vice president and wealth adviser in the Personal Trust Department of Bank of Hawaii.
>> First Hawaiian Bank has named Song Choi senior vice president and Marketing Communications Division manager. He has extensive strategic brand marketing experience in social media as well as digital and traditional media campaigns. Choi also was previously a director of marketing at ALTRES.