Ford recalls 3.6 million vehicles

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Ford Motor Co. will recall 3.6 million vehicles to remove a cruise control switch that has been associated with fires in other vehicles.

Vehicles being recalled range from the 1992 to 2004 model years and include the Ford Bronco, Lincoln Town Car, Ford Explorer, Ford Ranger and Mercury Grand Marquis among others.

The company is doing this in order to respond to customer concerns about the safety of the switch, which has been the subject of previous recalls.

The reason for this recall is different from any other recall we've done in the past related to cruise control deactivation switches," said Ford spokesman Dan Jarvis.

None of the vehicles involved in this recall have experienced an abnormal number of fires, Jarvis said. The company is recalling the vehicles so that customers will not be concerned about the switch, he said.

In 2005 and 2006, the company recalled nearly 6 million vehicles because of problems with the cruise control cut-off switch.

The switch shuts off the cruise control when the driver firmly steps on the brakes. The switch is located under the hood of the vehicle and is attached to the brake master cylinder on one end and wired to the cruise control on the other.

The switch is powered at all times, even when the vehicle is turned off. In some cases fluid leaking the switch could cause it to short circuit resulting in a fire, which led to the earlier recalls.

The recall will begin on August 13. Vehicle owners will have the cruise control switch, also called the speed control switch, deactivated as an interim repair. When new parts are available, which is expected to be October, Ford (Charts, Fortune 500) dealers will begin installing new parts.