Newsday, "Safety probes stepped up; Feds look into throttle sticking complaints on Ford models, other issues with Isuzu, Acura models"

A federal safety agency yesterday announced intensified investigations into reports that the rear doors in some Isuzu Troopers have fallen off because of corroded hinges and into reports of throttles sticking in some Ford Explorers.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Association also said it intensified to the second of three levels an investigation into 34 complaints that cruise control systems in some 1991 Acura Integras failed to turn off when the car's brakes were applied. It noted it had 19 complaints of intermittent throttle sticking in 1991 Explorer sport utility vehicles. Two accidents were reported, but no injuries, the NHTSA said. A total of 224,074 Explorers are affected. A Ford spokesman said the carmaker conducted its own investigation and found no defect.