Ford Recalls 1.2 Million Trucks
Cruise-Control Wiring Problem Was Culprit in '05 Call-Back
The 2001 F-250 is one of the models Ford is calling back for a wiring fix.
(Ford Motor Co. Via Associated Press)
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Friday, August 4, 2006
Ford Motor Co. yesterday recalled 1.2 million more pickup trucks and sport-utility vehicles for fires linked to a cruise-control switch that caused 4.5 million vehicles to be recalled last year.
The action involves F-Series pickups, Explorer and Excursion SUVs, and E-Series trucks and includes vehicles from 1994 through 2002 model years, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said on its Web site. Ford spokeswoman Kristen Kinley said 190 fires have been reported for those vehicles, with no injuries or accidents.
"This is a safety issue," said Erich Merkle, an auto analyst with IRN Inc. "You can't have these things reoccur on you; it doesn't enhance your image. They need to fix it and take care of it."
Ford, the second-largest U.S. automaker, in January 2005 recalled 792,000 F-150 pickups from the 2000 and 2001 model years, as well as Expedition SUVs. Eight months later, the company called back 3.7 million more F-150s and other vehicles, including 1994 through 1999 models and 2002 versions.
If the total of 5.7 million vehicles called back for the cruise-control switch were a single recall, it would the fourth-largest ever, behind a 1996 Ford recall of 7.9 million vehicles for ignition switches and two by General Motors Corp., according to NHTSA data.
Ford found that brake fluid can leak onto wiring, causing corrosion and overheating of the switch, Kinley said. The repairs will involve fixing a wiring harness, she said.
The switch is used on about 20 million Ford vehicles, NHTSA spokesman Rae Tyson said. Other vehicles that have the switch aren't expected to be recalled because the problem was traced to the placement of the switch in the models that have been called back, he said.
Joan Claybrook, president of the Washington consumer advocacy group Public Citizen, said: "A fire is the most deadly kind of defect you can have. I certainly think it should have had top priority."
The latest recall includes F-250, F-350, F-450 and F-550 trucks from the 1994 through 2002 model years. It also covers 1996 through 2002 E-450 vans, Econoline vans from 1994 through 1996, the 1998 Explorer SUV and similar Mercury Mountaineer, and 2000-02 Excursions.
