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Ford: Parts Now Available to Fix Faulty Cruise Control

Millions of Ford cars and trucks at risk

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By Joe Benton
ConsumerAffairs.com

July 22, 2008

Flaming Fords
• Report: Millions of Fire-Prone Fords Still on the Roads
• Ford: Parts Now Available to Fix Faulty Cruise Control
• Ford Trucks Burn in Virginia, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina
• Feds Probe Ford Windstar for Fire Hazard
• Ford Truck Suspected in North Texas House Fire
• Ford Cruise Control Fire Strikes Florida Car Dealership
• Ford Hopes to Wind Down Recall of Fire-Prone Vehicles
• Ford Expedition Suspected in Fatal Ohio Home Fire
• Ford Fires Continue Despite Long-Delayed Federal Warning
• Feds Warn Some Ford Trucks and Cars Can Erupt in Flames
• Ford Fire Lawsuits Spread
• Ford Recalls 57,000 More Trucks, SUVS for Fire Hazard
• Ford Fires Strike in Minnesota, California
• Ford Plans Another Recall to Fix Fire Hazard
• Ford Fire Hazard Recall Creeps Along
• Ford Escape, Mazda Tribute Continue Ford Fire Tradition
• Ford Fires Kill Pets and Spread Despair as Year Ends
• Ford Lacks Parts for Fire Recall Repair
• New F150 Erupts in Flames as Ford Truck Fires Rage On
• Red Hot Texas Car-B-Que
• Kerry Vows Action to Get Flaming Fords Off the Road
• Flaming Ford Scandal Disgraces Ford, Feds
• Ford Tries Again to Fix Fire Problem with Massive Recall
• One Ford the Recall Missed
• Ford Stops Sales of Big Super Duty, Recalls 2008 Trucks
• Ford Recalls 155,000 More Trucks to Fix Fire Hazard
• Feds Probe Fires in Ford Escape, Mazda Tribute
• Feds Wind Up Ford Engine Fire Probe with Massive Recall
• Ford Truck Fires Mount as Recall Rolls Slowly
• Ford Trucks Burn As Recall Fiddles
• Ford Truck Fire Fix Delayed by Parts Shortage
• Ford Recalls 4 Million Trucks to Fix Fire Risk
• Nader Demands NHTSA Warn Ford Truck Owners
• Wrongful Death Suit Charges House Fire Started in F-150
• Feds Look Deeper for Ford Fire Causes
• Recall Leaves Many Questions Unanswered
• Houston Lawyers Sue Ford
• Ford Recalls Some Fire-Prone Models
• Feds Probe Ford F-150 Engine Fires
• Ford Recall Was Biggest Ever
---
• Bronco
• Crown Victoria
• Dump truck
• Expedition
• Explorer
• F-150
• Other F-Series Trucks
• Focus
• Mustang
• Ranger Pickup
• Taurus
• Windstar

The Ford Motor Company says the parts needed to fix the fire-prone speed control system in millions of Ford cars and trucks are available at dealerships around the country.

"Affected customers should contact their dealer to schedule a service appointment to have final repairs completed," according to the automaker's Web site.

The Ford recall has dragged out for almost a decade as safety investigators struggled to identify the cause of the fires. The recall to repair a defective cruise control system eventually involved more than 12 million vehicles.

When the massive recall was announced in August of 2007, the automaker found there were insufficient parts available to repair the cars and trucks at risk of catching fire.

Ford is now prepared to install a fused wiring harness into the speed control electrical circuit or to replace the speed control deactivation system if it is found to be leaking.

"This is a quick repair, and will be performed on vehicles built between 1992 and 2004" the automaker said. "Ford dealers will provide this service to all affected vehicles at no charge to the customers. Owners of all affected vehicles will be notified by mail," according to Ford.

Here is the most recent list of recalled cars and trucks according to Ford:

Trucks:

1997-2002 Expedition

1998-2002 Navigator

2002-2003 Blackwood

1993-1996 Bronco

2000-2003 Excursion (built prior to 11/4/02)

1992-2003 Econoline E-150/250/350

1996-2003 Econoline E450

2002-2003 Econoline E550

1998-2002 Ranger

1998-2001 Explorer/Mountaineer

2001-2002 Explorer Sport (2 door) & Sport Trac

2003-2004 F-150 Lightning

1993-2003 F-Series (Under 8500 lb. GVW)

1993-2003 F-Series (over 8500 lb. GVW) – all plants except Cuautitlan

1994-2003 F-Series (over 8500 lb. GVW) – Cuautitlan built only prior to 1/7/03

1995-2002 F-53 Motorhome

Cars:

1992-1998 Town Car

1992-1998 Crown Victoria

1992-1998 Grand Marquis

1993-1998 Mark VIII

1993-1995 Taurus SHO (automatic transmission)

1994 Capri

In the latest announcement, the automaker said it is "voluntarily recalling a number of vehicles equipped with speed control to repair the system in order to address the possibility of a fire."

Ford continued to warn consumers not to use the speed control system in a recalled vehicle until the repairs are complete.

While the most recent notice on the Ford Web site downplays the possibility of a car or truck fire because of the cruise control switch, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has warned owners of Ford cars and trucks that carry the defective speed control system to have the vehicle repaired or the system disconnected immediately or risk the vehicle catching fire.

"This condition may occur either when the vehicle is parked or when it is being operated, even if the speed control is not in use," the NHTSA advisory stated.

"Failure to have the switch disconnected could lead to a vehicle fire at any time, whether or not the key is in the ignition, and whether or not owners use the cruise control system," the strongly-worded NHTSA consumer advisory cautioned.

NHTSA concluded that the fire danger is present regardless of the age of the vehicle.

Ford truck and SUV owners wanting more information about the fire danger in their vehicle or the recall may contact Ford at 1-800-392-3673 or NHTSA 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153).

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September 6 2008

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