Engine Fires Linked To 4.6M Recalled Fords

(CBS/AP)  The government on Thursday warned owners of about 4.6 million recalled Ford vehicles to bring their cars and trucks immediately to dealerships to disconnect cruise control switch systems that have been linked to engine fires.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration issued the consumer advisory to the owners of certain unrepaired Ford, Lincoln and Mercury sport utility vehicles, pickup trucks, vans and passenger cars who have not yet responded to past recalls.

The recalls have vexed the Dearborn, Mich.-based automaker, affecting its popular F-Series pickup trucks, prompting hundreds of complaints and dozens of lawsuits over engine fires. Three deaths have been tied to the fires and Ford has struggled to produce enough parts to fix the problem.

About 9.6 million Ford vehicles have been recalled since 1999 and about 5 million have been fixed, raising concerns about the remaining vehicles on the road. NHTSA said they have received about 60 complaints of engine fires in the Ford vehicles since August 2007.

Ford said they supported the action and dealers would soon offer a more permanent fix.

"We absolutely want everybody to come in as soon as they can because we can eliminate the risk of fire for anyone with a vehicle in this recall," said Ford Motor Co. spokesman Wes Sherwood. He said the company would have an "ample supply" of the replacement parts by June.

NHTSA said many dealers will disconnect the cruise control switches as a "drive through" service so owners do not have to leave their vehicles at the dealership or schedule an appointment.

Dealers have installed a fused wiring harness into the speed control electrical system as part of the recall, but replacement parts have not been widely available. Owners can take their vehicle to a dealer to have the cruise control deactivated until the parts arrive.

NHTSA issued a lengthy list of older vehicles covered by the consumer advisory, including 1993-2004 Ford F150 trucks, 1994-2002 F250 through F550 Super Duty trucks with gasoline engines, and 1998-2001 Ford Explorer and Mercury Mountaineer SUVs, all of which were among the best-selling vehicles in the nation during those years.

The Ford recalls have run into problems. Earlier this month, the automaker recalled about 225,000 vehicles that had already been repaired because some wiring harnesses appeared to be defective.

Ford also faces more than 100 lawsuits nationwide because of fires linked to the cruise control deactivation switch. Many owners have alleged the fires began after the vehicles were turned off and there have been three deaths attributed to that problem in Iowa, Georgia and Arkansas.

Last week, Ford was able to consolidate 77 lawsuits filed in Texas so a single judge can handle pretrial discovery.

Ford has said its internal investigations have found the fires did not cause deaths and injuries.

"In the cases where there was that allegation, we found that the source of the fire was unrelated to the vehicle," said Ford spokeswoman Kristen Kinley.

For additional details, owners can call Ford at [phone].

According to the NHTSA, the involved vehicles are:

1993 - 2004 F150

1993 - 1999 F250 (gasoline engine)

1993 - 1996 Bronco

1994 - 1996 Econoline

1997 - 2002 Ford Expedition

1998 - 2002 Lincoln Navigator

1998 - 2002 Ford Ranger

1992 - 1998 Ford Crown Victoria, Mercury Grand Marquis and Lincoln Town Car

1993 - 1998 Lincoln Mark VIII

1993 - 1995 Ford Taurus SHO with automatic transmission

1994 - Mercury Capri

1998 - 2001 Ford Explorer and Mercury Mountaineer

2001 - 2002 Ford Explorer Sport and Explorer Sport Trac

1992 - 1993 and 1997 - 2003 Ford E-150-350 gasoline or natural gas vehicles

2002 - E-550 gasoline engine vehicles

1996 - 2003 E-450 gasoline or natural gas vehicles

1994 - 2002 F-250 through F-550 super Duty trucks (gasoline engine)

2000 - 2002 Ford Excursion (gasoline engine)

2003 - F250 - F550 Super Duty, Ford Excursion

1995 - 2002 Ford F53 Motor home chassis

2002 - 2003 Lincoln Blackwood

[fliardog]

I own a Ford vehicle that''s included in the recall. I have been trying since Sept of 2007 to get it fixed and the Ford Dealer says he cannot get the parts to fix it. They are saying that maybe in March 2008 they will be available so their story of people not getting the recalls taken care of is not necessarily the consumers fault. I have tried 3 Ford dealers in our area and none of them have or can get the recall parts. I believe the big noise they are making is to protect themselves as I believe most people are like me, trying to fix it and can''t.
Thank you.
Joyce Shavlik
Gregory, SD

Joyce Shavlik

[mediapreachr]

Yea,''buy american'',but they make these Ford cars in Mexico?
Why not buy japanese,but made in USA.
Better quality and constructed by american workers.
No bonus for you,Mr.Ford CEO...

[excoachken]

I think it is time for Ford to "have a better idea."

[donevis-2009]

The recall repair is nothing more than a wiring adapter fuse link that plugs in between the culprit switch and the wiring connector. The cruise control will still work.

[fstop100]

First it was the Explorers that rolled over when they got a rear flat tire, the government saved them by going after Firestone, who by the way built an outstanding tire. After all the years of building cars you think they could get it right!

[brianbwb-2009]

So you bought a vehicle that has cruise control as part of the package, but then you have to have cruise control deactivated. Will Ford give you a "minus cruise control discount"? No chance.

Sue them until they have to close down. We don''t need them now anyway, the number of jobs they provide to Americans is not worth the risks of using their overpriced and shoddy products. Use the lemon law, get your money back.

[ringading3]

UNIONS have ruined the auto industry, schools and government employees. Root the thieves and thugs out of all levels of our lives.

[ringading3]

Keep telling us why we should buy *** made by the UNION thugs! UAW has ruined the American car industry all by itself. I will never buy another car or truck made by the UAW.

[payasyougo]

So from what I read in this article, Ford has had this recall for some time and has failed to produce the required part in quantity to fix the problem. Ford''s answer is to disconnect the part. Disconnecting the part protects Ford from a fire lawsuits. Ford''s next response is to consolidate the lawsuits.

Ford, when you get the replacement part you can touch my truck. If it burns up prior to that, you will pay.

[pjh822]

Ahh, but yet there is ONE more..
F*u*c*k*e*d* On Race Day


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Posted by trenticus at 08:07 PM : Feb 28, 2008

That''s a funny one, too, but begs the question, "What racing team in its right mind would put a Ford engine in their car to begin with?" LOL