The Nation - News from Sept. 19, 1989

Ford Motor Co. said it is recalling nearly 493,000 Ford Escorts and Mercury Lynxes to fix faulty emission control systems and 67,156 Mercury Tracers because of an apparent seat belt defect. Excessive emissions of hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide were discovered during routine tests of 1985 models, the Environmental Protection Agency said. Cars made for sale in California are excluded from the Ford recall because they are manufactured to meet the state’s emission standards, which are more stringent than EPA’s, officials said. The Tracers being recalled were made in the 1988 model year. In some cases, it has become difficult to extend the front-seat lap-shoulder belts for buckling unless they are pulled very slowly, the company said. A few of the belts may be impossible to pull out.