HARRISBURG — The state auditor general says the Pennsylvania Turnpike should end the practice of letting its employees and vendors drive on the toll road for free when they're not working.

Auditor General Jack Wagner said Monday he estimates the free-pass policy cost the state at least $7.7 million in lost collections over nearly five years. It's not clear how much of that is personal travel and how much is work-related.

He calls the practice disturbing and is urging turnpike executives to stop it, or at least improve oversight. Wagner plans to issue a report on the subject later this month.

A Turnpike spokesman says Wagner's report is under review.

DEARBORN, Mich. — Ford will update software on 2013 Escape SUVs and Fusion cars to fix a coolant problem that can cause fires. Last month the automaker recalled more than 89,000 of the vehicles after getting complaints about overheating and fires. It urged owners to get loaner cars from dealers until Ford found a fix. Only vehicles with 1.6-liter turbocharged engines are affected.Ford says the problem happens when a coolant doesn't flow through the radiator to be cooled. That is because a valve is out-of-sync with the thermostat. Overheated coolant leak onto hot exhaust parts. The problem has caused nine fires.