| For
Immediate Release |
| Consumer
Advisory: NHTSA Warns Ford, Lincoln and
Mercury Owners of Fire Hazards Involving
Faulty Cruise Control Switches in Recalled
Vehicles That Have Not Been Repaired |
Owners
of Recalled Vehicles are Urged to
Bring Vehicles to Dealers Immediately
to Disconnect Faulty Switches |
| The
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
today urged owners of certain unrepaired
Ford, Lincoln and Mercury SUVs, pickup
trucks, vans, and certain passenger cars
that contain a safety defect to bring
their vehicles to dealer repair shops
immediately to have the cruise control
switch disconnected. Many dealers will
perform this as a "drive through" service
so owners do not have to leave their
vehicles at the dealership or schedule
an appointment in advance. |
| Failure
to have the switch disconnected could
lead to a vehicle fire at any time, whether
or not the key is in the ignition, and
whether or not owners use the cruise
control system. The safety agency said
the fire danger is present regardless
of the age of the vehicle, and could
even occur while the vehicle is parked
and unattended. Several dwelling fires
have been attributed to the problem. |
| NHTSA
said it is issuing the consumer advisory
due to concerns that many owners have
yet to respond to multiple safety defect
recall notifications involving approximately
9.6 million registered vehicles. It said
that approximately five million vehicles
have been repaired so far, leaving some
five million passenger cars and light
trucks with the faulty switches intact,
and in danger of catching fire. |
| Ford
and NHTSA urged all owners of recalled
vehicles that have not been repaired
to bring their vehicles to dealers as
soon as possible to have the faulty switches
disconnected, as an interim safety measure.
Ford is in the process of re-notifying
owners of the SUVs and other light trucks
concerning the importance of having the
switch disconnected. |
| This
interim fix will eliminate the risk
of fire while affected Ford and Mercury
owners are waiting for final repairs
from the company, NHTSA said. |
| The
involved vehicles are: |
1.
1993 – 2004 F150
2. 1993 – 1999 F250 (gasoline
engine)
3. 1993 – 1996 Bronco
4. 1994 – 1996 Econoline
5. 1997 – 2002 Ford Expedition
6. 1998 – 2002 Lincoln Navigator
7. 1998 – 2002 Ford Ranger
8. 1992 – 1998 Ford Crown Victoria,
Mercury Grand Marquis and Lincoln Town
Car
9. 1993 – 1998 Lincoln Mark VIII
10. 1993 – 1995 Ford Taurus SHO
with automatic transmission
11. 1994 – Mercury Capri
12. 1998 – 2001 Ford Explorer
and Mercury Mountaineer
13. 2001 – 2002 Ford Explorer
Sport and Explorer Sport Trac
14. 1992 – 1993 and 1997 – 2003
Ford E-150-350 gasoline or natural
gas vehicles
15. 2002 – E-550 gasoline engine
vehicles
16. 1996 – 2003 E-450 gasoline
or natural gas vehicles
17. 1994 – 2002 F-250 through
F-550 super Duty trucks (gasoline engine)
18. 2000 – 2002 Ford Excursion
(gasoline engine)
19. 2003 – F250 – F550
Super Duty, Ford Excursion
20. 1995 – 2002 Ford F53 Motor
home chassis
21. 2002 – 2003 Lincoln Blackwood |
| Consumers
with questions should contact their
local Ford/Lincoln/Mercury dealer,
or call 888-222-2751. Additional information
is available by clicking
here. |
|
|
| Based on information from NHTSA and Ford, and as reported in the media, the cruise control switches that have been linked to fires are the same or similar to those on many vehicles manufactured by Ford (or sold under the Lincoln or Mercury brand names). |
| RECALLED VEHICLES |
|
| VEHICLES WITH THE SAME OR SIMILAR SWITCHES |
|
Cars
1998 Mercury Grand Marquis
1993 Lincoln Mark VII
1993-1995 Ford Sable |
 |
SUVs
1992-1997 Mercury Mountaineer |
|
Pickup Trucks
1998-2002 Ford Ranger |
|
Vans
1992-1993, 1997-2002 Ford Econoline
1994-2002 Ford Windstar |
To learn more about the Ford Fire Recall, click here. |
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National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
To report a vehicle fire incident
Phone: (888) 327-4236
Web: www.nhtsa.gov
Mail: U.S. Department of Transportation
NHTSA
Office of Defects Investigation
NSA-10.01 400 7th Street, SW
Washington, DC 20590 |
|
Ford Motor Company:
Phone: (800) 392-3673
Web: for recall information, visit Ford's Recall Information Page |
|
Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein, LLP:
Phone: (800) 541-7358
Web: for information regarding your legal rights and our law firm, visit our website, www.vehicle-injuries.com |
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