I know--you're happy for me! I mention it not to brag, but to raise a warning flag to the U.S. automotive industry. I purchased the diminutive sport utility vehicle despite folk wisdom that cautions against buying a car in its first model year. Indeed, when Ford Motor Co. debuted the Escape last summer, a string of recalls followed. One involved a minor problem with the steering. Due to a defect, the steering wheel could, potentially, come off! My local Nissan dealer was all too happy to point that out when I test-drove the Xterra.
Regrettably, the early recalls on the Escape were not isolated incidents. U.S. automakers issued 110 recalls of cars and light trucks during the first 3 months of 2001. At that rate, the industry could match the record number of 483 recalls undertaken last year--even with slowing sales and fewer vehicles manufactured. In 1999, a record 19.9 million vehicles were recalled, while only 16.9 million cars and trucks were sold.