FORD RECALL DUE TO FIRES IN TRUCKS, SUVs & VANS FIRES RELATED TO CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH
FORD
RECALL INCLUDES YEAR 2000 model year F-150 Truck, Expedition, Navigators and
2001 F-Series Supercrew Pickup Trucks Possibly The Ford Ranger, Ford Explorer
& Mercury Mountaineer and Windstar Van may soon also be recalled due to
fires as well.
 Ford
Motor Co. said on Friday it was investigating some of its top-selling pickup
trucks, sport utility vehicles and minivans from 1997 to 2002 model years for
possible fire risk from overheating of cruise control switches. The
investigation, which could include millions of vehicles, follows Thursday's
recall of about 792,000 pickup trucks and SUVs for engine fires that may be
sparked by the defective switches. The recall involved some of Ford's biggest
money-makers: 2000 model-year F-150 pickup trucks, Expedition and Navigator SUVs
and 2001 model-year F-Series Supercrew pickup trucks equipped with cruise
control. "We are also continuing to investigate other models," Ford
spokeswoman Kristen Kinley told Reuters.
Ford
has so far received 68 complaints of fires from customers, she said. Ford is now
looking into its Ranger pickup truck, Explorer and Mountaineer SUVs and Windstar
minivan that are equipped with similar cruise control switches, but Kinley
declined to reveal the number of vehicles involved. Those vehicles have so far
not shown the same risk of fire as the recalled vehicles, she said. The National
Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is also looking into the
complaints of fires. "We need to better understand why these (switches) are
failing in the first place," NHTSA spokesman Rae Tyson said. Ford is in the
process of acquiring replacement cruise control switches for the recalled
vehicles, which are connected to one injury. Last month, Ford recalled more than
600,000 Escapes and Mazda Tribute SUVs from the 2002-2004 model years because
the accelerator cable may prevent the engine from returning to idle, which could
increase stopping distance and result in a crash.
 If
you have a question regarding a personal injury claim or the wrongful death of a
friend or family member, Call and Talk to a Board Certified Personal Injury
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FORD
ANNOUNCES SAFETY RECALL
Ford
is voluntarily issuing a safety recall to address under hood fires related to
the speed control switch in four-to-five year old 2000 model year Ford F-150s,
Ford Expeditions and Lincoln Navigators, as well as 2001 F-Series Supercrew
trucks manufactured during the same time period as the other 2000 model year
vehicles. Ford has been working closely with the National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration (NHTSA) to investigate this issue.
- 2000
model Ford F-150 truck
- 2000
model Ford Expeditions
- 2000
Lincoln
Navigators
- Some
2001 Ford F-Series Supercrew Trucks
(built through Aug.
7, 2000)
Ford
will notify owners of approximately 792,000 2000 model year F-150s,
Expeditions, Navigators and 2001 F-Series Supercrews equipped with speed
control to have the electrical connector from the speed control disconnected.
Ford is in the process of acquiring a sufficient supply of replacement speed
control switches but, in the interim, our first step is to deactivate the
speed control to eliminate the risk of fires. Once replacement switches are
available, we will issue a second owner notification to have the switch
replaced and the speed control reconnected.
Obviously,
this interim action will disable the speed control. We recognize this may be
an inconvenience, but we believe this preventive action is in the best
interest of our customers' safety.
Owners
of affected vehicles will be notified by mail the beginning of February.
Customers may also contact Ford's Customer Assistance Center at
1-866-436-7332.
January
2005
If
you have a question regarding a personal injury claim or the wrongful death of
a friend or family member, call and talk to a Board Certified Personal Injury
Trial Lawyer with 20+ years of experience. Call Now. FREE
CONFIDENTIAL CONSULTATION
at 1-800-883-9858
(Toll Free)
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