Ford Recalls 1.2 Million Vehicles Due to Potential Engine Fires

Last September, Ford Motor Co. recalled 3.8 million 1994-2002 model year pickup trucks and SUVs, including the top-selling F-150 pickup, because of concerns over engine fires. The recall was the fifth largest in the history of American car manufacturing. In January of 2005, the company expanded that recall further by recalling nearly 800,000 pickups and SUVs from model year 2000 because of similar issues. And now the recall has again reared its ugly head—on Thursday Ford announced the recall of over 1.2 million more vehicles.

This time the recall involves trucks, sport utility vehicles, and vans fueled by gasoline or natural gas (not diesel) and equipped with speed control. Vehicles involved in the recall include 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.

For said the recall is tied to the speed control deactivation switch system. Last year’s review by the company discovered that brake fluid could potentially leak through the cruise control’s deactivation switch into the system’s electrical components, resulting in corrosion. The buildup of electrical current caused by the corrosion could cause overheating and, eventually, an engine fire. To correct the problem in recalled vehicles, dealers installed a fuse wiring harness to the cruise control deactivation switch to prevent the risk of fire if the switch leaked.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said Thursday that it has closed an investigation into the cause of the fires, which has been conducted for almost two years. The 1,472 complaints the agency has received about the problems included 65 reports of engine fires. Lawsuits against Ford have been filed in Georgia, Arkansas, and Iowa over three deaths allegedly resulting from vehicle fires, although NHTSA said that there have been no confirmed deaths or injuries as a result of engine fires due to the cruise control deactivation switch leaking.

Rae Tyson, spokesman for NHTSA, said that agency investigators worked with Ford to research the problem in "one of the most exhaustive investigations that we’ve ever done." He said that the investigation showed that when the switch is placed in an upright position or at an angle, and there is excessive vacuum pressure in the brake system, there is a significant risk of engine fire if the switch leaks.

Ford sent a letter to the NHTSA saying that it had identified about 250 incidents connected to fire or smoke coming from the switch in affected vehicles, but there have been no allegations of serious injuries or deaths. Ford spokeswoman Kristen Kinley said that about 40% of the vehicles returned under the previous recalls have been fixed. Tyson said the NHTSA does not expect any additional recalls. About 20 million of the switches are used in vehicles by various manufacturers, but Tyson said no problems like this have been found in non-Ford vehicles. "We believe that we have identified the problem vehicles and we believe the Ford recall today is going to address the remaining problem," he said.

Owners of vehicles in this latest group of recalls will receive notices in the mail in a week, and they can take their vehicles to dealers to have a fused wiring harness installed. Customers with questions can contact Ford at 1-888-222-2751.