Ford and Chrysler recall hundreds of thousands of vehicles over software issues

U.S. automakers Ford and Chrysler recalled on Friday hundreds of thousands of vehicles, most of them in North America, to fix faulty software and mechanical problems.

The two companies, in separate recall announcements, said they did not know of any injuries or deaths linked to the defects.

Ford recalled 692,500 Escape sport utility vehicles (SUVs) and C-MAX crossovers from model years 2013 and 2014 over a potential software problem that could delay airbag deployment in rollovers.

The number-two U.S. automaker also is recalling 692,700 of the 2013-2014 Escapes for exterior door handles that many not latch properly.

The recalls are mostly in North America: the United States (594,785), Canada (78,013) and Mexico (19,689).

Chrysler, the U.S. unit of Italy's Fiat Chrysler, is recalling 780,477 minivans to replace power window switches that can overheat.

The models affected are Dodge Grand Caravan and Chrysler Town & Country, model years 2010 to 2014.

The company is calling back for repairs 644,850 minivans in the U.S.; 106,980 in Canada; 8,009 in Mexico; and 20,638 elsewhere.

[Image via Agence France-Presse]