ConsumerAffairs.Com, "Flaming Ford Scandal Disgraces Ford, Feds"

Ford Stonewalls Its Devastated Customers; NHTSA Fails In Its Mission to Protect the Public

          With its latest recall, the Ford Motor Co. has recalled almost 11 million cars and trucks since 2005 because of a clear danger that the vehicles could erupt in flames without warning. But as the piecework recalls trickle out from the federal agency charged with the responsibility of protecting consumers from faulty automotive products, Fords keep burning, sometimes destroying homes and other vehicles while Ford denies responsibility and tells its customers to call their insurance company.
          Federal regulators at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) have repeatedly closed the books on Ford fires, declaring their mission accomplished. In the massive recall of August 2006, NHTSA proclaimed: "With the three recalls Ford has announced, all of the models that Ford built ... that exhibit the factors that can cause the switch to fail resulting in a fire while the ignition is in the off position will be candidates for a free remedy."
          At the time of the 2006 recall, a NHTSA spokesman described the probe as "one of the most exhaustive investigations that we've ever done" and said the agency did not expect any additional recalls.

Flaming Fords

• On August 3, 2007, Ford announced it was recalling as many as 3.6 million cars, truck, and vans because a switch that deactivates the speed control can overheat and catch fire according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. (Unfavorable news often is released on Friday afternoon, when it is least likely to be noticed by a public focused on the upcoming weekend).

• In August 2006, Ford and NHTSA recalled the 1994-2002 F-250, F-350, F-450 and F-550 F-Super Duty trucks, 2000-2002 Excursion SUVs, 1994-1996 Econoline vans and 1996-2002 E-450 vans, and 1998 Explorers and Mountaineers.

• In September 2005, Ford recalled 3.8 million pickups and SUVs from the 1994-2002 model years, including the top-selling F-150 pickup, because of the concerns over engine fires. The recall was the fifth-largest auto industry recall in U.S. history.

• In January 2005, Ford recalled nearly 800,000 pickups and SUVs from the 2000 model year because of similar issues.

          Roughly 20 million of the defective switches are installed in vehicles but investigators said they did not detect similar problems in non-Ford vehicles.

Wrong Again

          But the bureaucrats at NHTSA have been wrong each time they proclaimed the problem solved. None of the earlier recalls included every Ford that might catch fire.
         The latest recall will begin on August 13. Vehicle owners will have the cruise control switch, also called the speed control switch, deactivated as an interim repair. When new parts are available, which is expected in October.

Recalled Models

Models recalled in the latest round-up include:

* Bronco, 1993
* Crown Victoria, 1992-1998
* E150, 1992-1993 and 1997-2002
* E250, 1992 -1993 and 1997-2003
* E450, 2003
* Explorer, 1991-2001
* Explorer Sport, 2001-2002
* Explorer Sport Trac, 2002-2002
* F150 Lightening, 2003-2004
* F150, 1993
* F250, 1993
* F350, 1003
* F450m 1995-2002
* F53 Motor Home, 1995-2002
* Ranger, 1995-2002
* Taurus, 1993-1995
* Lincoln Mark VII, 1993-1998
* Lincoln Town Car, 1992-1998
* Mercury Capri, 1994
* Mercury Grand Marquis, 1992-1998
* Mercury Mountaineer, 1999-2001

Learn more about Ford cruise control switch fires and the rights of victims of Ford vehicle fires.