Ford Recalling Millions Of Vehicles

Lincoln Ford A cruise control switch system has been tied to engine fires.

by Associated Press

Published: Tue, September 09, 2008 - 8:47 pm CST Last Updated: Tue, September 09, 2008 - 8:58 pm CST

The government is urging owners of 5 million
recalled Ford vehicles to bring them to dealerships to repair a
cruise control switch system that has been tied to engine fires.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration on Tuesday
issued a second consumer advisory to owners of certain unrepaired
Ford, Lincoln and Mercury sport utility vehicles, pickup trucks,
vans and passenger cars who have not responded to previous recalls.
NHTSA said about 12 million vehicles have been part of the
recall and nearly 5 million still have not been fixed. A similar
warning was issued in February but officials said the rate of the
vehicles being repaired has declined.
The recalls have affected Ford's popular F-Series pickup trucks
and led to hundreds of complaints and dozens of lawsuits over
engine fires.
Ford spokesman Wes Sherwood said the Dearborn, Mich., company
supported the effort to communicate with owners. He said owners
have received several recall notices but "the return rate has been
lower than expected or hoped (for)."
Dealers have installed a fused wiring harness into the speed
control electrical system as part of the recall, and the government
said replacement parts are 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, which were
among the best-selling vehicles in the nation during those years.
To see a complete list, click here.

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