Ford Expands Vehicle Recall Due to Fire Risk

October 2009

Faulty cruise control switches that can cause fires have prompted Ford to further expand an ongoing recall. This brings the total number of recalled automobiles to 14.3 million.

The most recent recall involves the following models:

• 1995-2003 Ford Windstar
• 2000-2003 Ford Excursion diesel
• 1993-1997 and 1999-2003 Ford F-Super Duty diesel
• 1992-2003 Ford Econoline
• 1995-2002 Ford Explorer
• 1995-2002 Mercury Mountaineer
• 1995-1997 and 2001-2003 Ford Ranger
• 1994 Ford F35 Motorhome

Over the past 10 years, hundreds of complaints and dozens of lawsuits have been filed over fires allegedly caused by the faulty switches. Past recalls included some of Ford's most popular brands, like the F-series of pickup trucks.

Investigators have discovered that the defective switches, made by Texas Instruments, can leak internally, overheat, and potentially ignite. There have also been four reports of leaking fluid damaging the antilock brake control module, resulting in a fire.