About a month after recalling more than 400,000 vehicles, Ford issued four more separate recalls of vehicles in the U.S., Canada and Mexico through campaigns that cover more than 1.4 million units.

The largest single campaign is for the Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner from the 2008 through 2011 model years. Ford said a total of 915,216 of these vehicles in North America are being recalled for a potential issue with the torque sensor within the steering column, which may result in the loss of electric power steering assist while driving.

“If this happens, the steering system defaults to manual steering mode, making the vehicle more difficult to steer, especially at lower speeds. This could result in an increased risk of a crash,” Ford spokesperson Kelli Felker said in a statement to Auto Remarketing.

“A potential issue with the torque sensor within the steering column could result in the loss of electric power steering. If this happens, the steering system defaults to manual steering mode, making the vehicle more difficult to steer, especially at lower speeds. This could result in an increased risk of a crash,” Felker continued.

The automaker indicated its franchised dealers will perform one of three service fixes, depending upon what diagnostic codes are shown when the vehicle is taken to the dealer. They will either update software for the power steering control module and the instrument cluster module; replace the torque sensor; or replace the steering column, which includes upgraded power steering control module software.

Affected vehicles were vehicles built between Aug. 18, 2006 and Sept. 11, 2010 at the Kansas City Assembly Plant.

As of May 19, Ford indicated 736,407 of these Escapes and Mariners are in the U.S. with an additional 4,471 units in the federalized territories. The Blue Oval said 134,568 units are in Canada while another 39,770 vehicles are in Mexico

“There may be additional vehicles affected in other markets,” Felker said.

The next largest recall is for the Ford Explorer from 2011 through 2013 models years. Ford said 195,527 units are being recalled in North America for a potential intermittent electrical connection in the steering gear that may result in the loss of electric power steering assist while driving.

“If this happens, the steering system defaults to manual steering mode, making the vehicle more difficult to steer, especially at lower speeds. This could result in an increased risk of a crash. If assist is lost, drivers will hear a chime and see a message in the instrument cluster,” Felker said.

“A potential intermittent electrical connection in the steering gear may result in the loss of electric power steering assist while driving,” Felker continued. “If this happens, the steering system defaults to manual steering mode, making the vehicle more difficult to steer, especially at lower speeds. This could result in an increased risk of a crash. If assist is lost, drivers will hear a chime and see a message in the instrument cluster.”

Like the largest recall, Ford said dealers will perform one of two service fixes on these Explorers, depending upon what diagnostic code is shown when the vehicle is brought to the dealer. They will either update software for the power steering control module or replace the steering gear.

“The most common fix is expected to be the software update,” Felker said.

As of May 19, the OEM determined 177,747 of these recalled Explorers are in the U.S. with an additional 1,280 units in the federalized territories. Another 11,923 units are in Canada with another 4,577 vehicles in Mexico.

These recalled Explorers were built between May 17, 2010 and Feb. 28, 2012 at the Chicago Assembly Plant.

“There may be additional vehicles affected in other markets,” Felker reiterated.

Switching away from SUVs, the next Ford recall is for 196,639 Taurus vehicles from the 2010 through 2014 model years. The campaign is to address a potential corrosion issue in the license plate lamp.

“When vehicles are operated in a high-corrosion environment associated with road salt use, a salt water mixture may get into the license plate lamp and lead to corrosion. The corrosion may cause a short circuit in the lamp, resulting in excessive heat and potentially a fire,” Felker said.

The automaker said dealers will replace the license plate lamp assembly on vehicles originally sold in or currently registered in corrosion states and regions at no cost to the customer. There are 183,422 vehicles in the U.S. and 13,214 units in Canada.

Affected vehicles were originally sold in or currently registered in the following states:

— Connecticut
— Iowa
— Minnesota
— Ohio
— Wisconsin
— Delaware
— Maine
— Missouri
— Pennsylvania
— District of Columbia
— Maryland
— New Hampshire
— Rhode Island
— Illinois
— Massachusetts
— New Jersey
— Vermont
— Indiana
— Michigan
— New York
— West Virginia         

The recall also covers vehicles in these Canadian provinces:

— Ontario
— Quebec
— Prince Edward Island
— New Brunswick
— Nova Scotia
— Newfoundland
— Labrador

“Although this corrosion related condition is not expected to exist in non-corrosion states, under a separate program, customers in non-corrosion states will be notified. At the customer’s request, dealers will replace the license plate lamp assembly,” Felker said.

Finally, the last recall covers 82,576 driver’s side all-weather Ford floor mats that may be in some Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan, Lincoln Zephyr and MKZ vehicles from the 2006 through 2011 model years.

“If improperly installed, certain Ford all-weather driver’s side floor mats may come in contact with the accelerator pedal,” Felker said.

Ford indicated the recalled floor mats may have been supplied with some 2006-2011 MY Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan, Lincoln Zephyr and MKZ vehicles or purchased by owners of these vehicles from a Ford or Lincoln dealer.

Owners of affected Ford driver’s side all-weather floor mats will be asked to return their Ford all-weather mats to their dealer in exchange for a new set of mats.