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CASES & INVESTIGATIONS |
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GENERAL INFORMATION |
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Ford F-250 Cruise
Control Switch Fires |
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| The Ford Speed Control Deactivation Switch, also known as a "brake pressure switch," costs
about $21. The switch shuts off the cruise control when the driver
firmly steps on the brakes. The switch is located under the hood of
the vehicle and is attached to the brake master cylinder on one end
and wired to the cruise control on the other. This position places
it above flammable reservoirs of brake fluid. |
| On most of its models, Ford designed the switch to be powered -- or "hot" -- at all times, even when the vehicle is off and the key is removed from the ignition. |
| Inside the switch, a thin film barrier separates brake fluid from the switch's electrical components. |
| Investigators say fires can break out under certain conditions, such as when the film cracks and brake fluid from the master cylinder seeps into the electrical side of the switch. This can cause a fire, even when the engine had been turned off and, in some cases, idle for days. |
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| As of August 2006, Ford reports that only 40 percent of vehicles recalled in 2005 have been fixed, leaving millions of vehicles with faulty cruise control switches on the road. For a complete list of the recalled vehicles, see below. |
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| Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein, LLP represents persons injured in vehicle accidents. Click here to submit your case. |
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| The following signs could indicate that you have a problem with your cruise-control switch: cruise control is not working properly; brake fluid is leaking around the switch; fuses are blown near the switch; or the fuse for the speed control cannot be opened. |
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| If you experienced a vehicle fire, you should contact your insurance company and preserve the physical evidence needed to establish your claim. You should also report your vehicle fire to the United States National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), so that NHTSA receives notice of the incident. |
| To report a fire incident with any vehicle, visit the website at http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/ or http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/ivoq/ or call 1-888-DASH-2-DOT. |
| By U.S. mail, contact the NHTSA at: |
U.S. Department of Transportation
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
Office of Defects Investigation
NSA-10.01, 400 7th Street, SW
Washington, DC 20590 |
| Vehicle owners who wish to obtain more information about the recall should contact Ford at 1-800-392-3673. |
| With co-counsel, Lieff Cabraser is representing owners of Ford trucks and other vehicles in lawsuits against Ford for the damages they suffered allegedly due to a defect in the cruise-control switch which caused the vehicle to catch on fire. |
| Lieff Cabraser is representing the family of a 4-year-old girl killed in a fire on January 1, 2004, allegedly caused by the switch defect in the family's 2001 Ford F-150. The girl, Blake Washington, was asleep in her bed when the fire broke out. The Washington family filed a wrongful death suit in Georgia State Court on July 15, 2005. |
| In June 2005, a lawsuit was filed in Iowa by the family of Darletta Mohlis, who died from injuries from a fire in her home May 2, claiming her death was the result of the failure of a cruise control deactivation switch inside her 1996 F-150 truck that was made by Texas Instruments. |
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| Owners of the Ford vehicles who lost their vehicle
due to fire and also suffered other significant property damage (such as
the loss of their house) or were personally injured, are welcome to contact
an attorney at Lieff Cabraser experienced in handling fire recall claims
against Ford by clicking
here.
There is no charge or obligation for our review of your case. |
| You may also contact us by telephone toll free
at 1-866-313-1973 and request to speak to Ford fire recall attorney
Mark Chalos. We will also investigate vehicles made by other manufacturers
that caught fire and led to an injury or significant property damage. |
| At this time we are only accepting cases involving vehicles that caught fire and in addition to the vehicle being destroyed, other significant property damage occurred or persons were injured. Owners who wish to obtain more information about the Ford fire recall should contact Ford at 1-800-392-3673 or NHTSA's auto safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236. |
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| Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein, LLP, is
a national law firm of over 50 lawyers with offices in San Francisco,
New York and Nashville. |
| Our
attorneys are recognized for the successful
prosecution of lawsuits involving deaths,
personal injuries and property damage
due to defective products, including
in the field of vehicle safety. |
| Currently,
we are prosecuting multiple personal
injury lawsuits involving car, van,
pickup truck, SUV and other vehicle
accidents. We represent persons injured
and the families of victims of fatal
accidents involving SUVs, 15-passenger
vans, pickup trucks, heavy trucks, and
other passenger vehicles. To learn more
about the firm, click
here. |
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"Texan's
death rekindles Ford switch issue"
March 6, 2007, Detroit News |
"Ford recalls 1.2M trucks over fire hazard"
August 3, 2006, USA Today |
"Ford Issues Recall"
August 3, 2006, San Francisco Chronicle |
"Ford recalling 3.8 million vehicles; Trucks and SUVs recalled for cruise control switch that could cause fires"
September 7, 2005, CNN/Money |
"Ford Trucks Catch Fire, Not Attention"
August 15, 2005, WFMY News |
"Ford Document: Millions of vehicles have fire risk part"
June 27, 2005, CNN |
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| Trademark Notice:
Vehicle Injuries.com is an electronic newsletter from Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein,
LLP, a national personal injury attorney | lawyer law firm. |
| Lieff Cabraser is not
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| About Lieff Cabraser:
Drivers and passengers injured in auto crashes and pickup truck and SUV rollover
accidents, or families of loved ones who died, may be eligible to file lawsuits
against other drivers at fault or against the manufacturer of their vehicle if
the accident was due to a safety defect. Safety defects can include a high risk
of rolling
over, tire tread
separation, seat
belt failures and other defects. Learn
more... |
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| Copyright © 2008 Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein,
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