DETROIT (CNN/Money) - Ford Motor Co. has recalled more than 1.3 million Taurus and Sable sedans in two separate actions to fix a faulty brake light and replace an air filter that can catch fire, the automaker said in letters to safety authorities released Wednesday.
Ford, the second-largest U.S. automaker, said one of the recalls includes about 938,789 Taurus and Sable cars for the 2000 to 2003 model years to replace the stop lamp switch and associated wiring. The second recall of about 399,926 Taurus and Sable cars from the 2003 model year is to replace the air filters.
The brake light problem could cause the brake lights to fail to come on or to stay on continuously, according to information on the National Highway Traffic Administration's Web site. If the brake light won't come on, the driver will not be able to shift out of park. If it says on all the time, the driver will not be able to use cruise control and the battery may be drained.
There have been two accidents and one injury as a result of the brake light switch, according to Ford.
On some vehicles, the paper air filter could smolder and burn, resulting a fire under the hood, according to NHTSA's Web site. This problem could also cause damage to the car's air induction system.
About 118,000 of the affected vehicles have both problems, said a Ford spokesperson.
Owner notification began March 5 for the brake light problem and is expected to begin March 10 for the air filter problem. In both cases, the effected parts will be replaced. Owners should contact Ford at 1-800-392-3673 or NHTSA's Auto Safety Hotline at 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236). .
-- Reuters contributed to this story.
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