Ford recalls cars, trucks on brakes, transmissions

Ford Motor Company has recalled 3,000 1980-model cars and about 80,000 1980 -model light trucks because of possible brake and transmission problems. In announcing the recalls, Ford said the cars -- Ford Thunderbirds, Mercury Cougar XR-7s, Ford Fairmonts, and Mercury Zephyrs -- were made with brake drums intended for the smaller Ford Mustang model. Ford said the trucks -- Broncos, vans, and F-series pickups -- have transmissions with parking actuating rods that have defective welds.

This transmission defect has "absolutely nothing to do" with the possible recall of 9 million cars whose automatic transmissions allegedly can slip out of the park position, a Ford spokesman said.