Ford Recalls Millions of Vehicles for Faulty Speed Control Switch

August 16, 2007

Ford is conducting a voluntary safety recall involving speed control deactivation switch systems in 3.6 million vehicles. Ford claims this is a quick repair, and will be performed on vehicles built between 1992 and 2003.

Ford dealers will provide this service to all affected vehicles at no charge to the customers. The company says it has a sufficient supply of parts to service the affected trucks. The supply of parts to service the affected cars is expected to be available in early October. Owners of all affected vehicles will be notified by mail.

A related artlcle at CNN suggests there may be a link between this part and some suspicious vehicle fires. Apparently In 2005, CNN began airing a series of investigative reports on unexplained and sudden fires in Ford cars and trucks. Their article states that they "found that a tiny electrical switch in the cruise control system could lead to the vehicle catching fire, even hours after the car was turned off." However, a Ford spokesman told CNN that Ford vehicles being recalled do not have "a higher-than-normal fire incidence."

Click here to see a complete list of which vehicles are involved in this recall, what model years, and where they were built.

According to the Ford Recall Advisory, "While these vehicles are not subject to the systems interaction issues affecting vehicles in the prior recall populations, Ford is taking this action to address continued customer concerns about the potential for fires in their vehicles. We cannot be confident in the long-term durability of the speed control deactivation switches."

At no charge to customers, Ford or Lincoln/Mercury Dealers will inspect the speed control deactivation switch and install a fused wiring harness between the current speed control wiring and the deactivation switch or, if necessary, replace the deactivation switch. The harness acts to protect the switch in the rare event of increased electrical current flow through the switch.

Owners of trucks that are affected by this recall will be instructed to take their vehicles to a Ford or Lincoln/Mercury dealership for repairs. Owners of cars that are affected by this recall will be directed to bring their vehicles into their dealership to have the speed control disconnected, as an interim repair, until parts are available to perform the final repair in early October, which is the same as the repair for trucks.

By Brandy Schaffels
Contributing Editor