Pravda.Ru: Ford Recalls 4.5 Million Vehicles Over Fire Problem

Ford Motor Co (F.N) is launching its largest ever recall. the recall involves faulty cruise control deactivation switches that have caused fires -- by 4.5 million vehicles, regulators and company officials said on Tuesday.

The action effectively ends a 10-year saga about switches made by Texas Instruments (TXN.N) that has led to more than a half-dozen recalls at Ford covering 14 million registered vehicles.

The government added two million vehicles to the Ford total. Affected vehicles should be taken to Ford dealers to be fixed. 

The recall covers 1.1 million Ford Windstar minivans that had a small risk of fire due to internal leaking from the switches. Ford said in a letter to federal regulators that it found a small number of reported fires linked to the problem during an internal investigation that began last year. Ford did not specify how many.

The remaining 3.4 million vehicles are Ford, Lincoln and Mercury models. Ford said there were no reports of fires with those models, most of which are trucks and sport utility vehicles. These vehicles were included in the recall because they use the same switches. All vehicles covered by the recall were manufactured in 1992 to 2003. 

Ford advised owners of all vehicles covered by the recall to park them outside until they are mailed instructions by the end of the month on how to get repairs. 

The switch, made by Texas Instruments Inc., can leak and then overheat, smoke, or burn. Ford had previously recalled 9.8 million vehicles since 1999.

No deaths or injuries are linked to the defect. The recall is the seventh involving this particular  switch.

The vehicles affected are Ford’s 1992-2003 Econoline vans, 2000-2003 Excursion sport utility vehicles, 1995-2002 Explorer SUVs, 1993-1997 and 1999-2003 F-Series Super Duty pickup trucks, 1994 F53 motor-home chassis, 1995-1997 and 2001-2003 Ranger pickups, 1995-2003 Windstar minivans, and 1995-2002 Mercury Mountaineer SUVs.

The automaker will notify owners beginning Oct. 26 to bring vehicles to dealers for repairs free of charge.


source: http://english.pravda.ru/news/business/14-10-2009/109858-ford-0

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