Ford Recall: Fire in the Hole

Ford Motor Company claims that it is unclear whether its cruise control switches are the fault for over 560 reported fires and explosions in Ford vehicles. Many of these fires broke out when the vehicles were parked in family garages, destroying homes and lives. In cases like this the numbers reported are only a fraction of what has actually occurred, but Ford claims to be doing its best to determine the cause of the fires and refuses to declare the cruise control switch at fault. Here are the facts: More than 16 million Ford vehicles have rolled out of the lots installed with a cruise control switch that is designed not to switch off. This switch remains hot and powered, even when the car is parked. Only a thin metal sheet separates the switch from the brake fluid line, and only a little extra heat can cause the switch to combust, dripping flaming fluid over all the plastic components, resulting in a full-blown hood fire that is very difficult to extinguish. Many owners have reported explosions, both while driving Ford vehicles and after parking them. In May of 1999, Ford issued a recall on Crown Victoria, Grand Marquis, and Town Car models from 1992-1993. A second recall issued in January of 2005 affected 800,000 vehicles including all 2001 F-Series Super Crews and all the year 2000 Expeditions, Navigators, and F-150 Pickups. Even these massive recalls have not solved the problem. As recently as this month reports have come in of vehicle fires in models not covered by the recall. A 1999 Expedition caught fire in a family garage after 3 Ford dealerships refused to replace its cruise control switch. Federal investigators are now looking at 3.7 million Ford trucks and SUV