Ford vehicles recalled for fire risk
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration warns that a defective cruise control switch can cause fire in some Ford, Lincoln and Mercury cars and trucks.
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has put out another recall warning the owners of some Ford (F, Fortune 500), Lincoln and Mercury SUV's, pickup trucks, vans and cars that their vehicles have a defect that could cause them to catch fire at any time.
It's the second advisory NHTSA has put out on this problem, which it describes as a "defective cruise control switch that could lead to a fire at any time, even while the vehicle is turned off, parked and unattended."
NHTSA spokeswoman Karen Aldana says it's being put out again because of the 12 million vehicles recalled in February, nearly 5 million still have not been brought in for repair.
"This is kind of another plea to say the manufacturer has all the parts available. There is no excuse for not bringing your vehicle in to be fixed," explained Aldana. "It poses a serious fire hazard to vehicles and to dwellings. And that's scary."
Aldana says the agency has received nearly 60 complaints of fires that occurred in the affected vehicles.
Aldana added that NHTSA is currently investigating a similar problem in Ford Windstar vans. The agency has received more than 130 complaints of alleged fires in those vehicles.
Consumers are urged to contact their local Ford/Lincoln/Mercury dealer at 888-222-2751 or go to www.ford.com.
The following vehicles are affected:
- 1993 - 2004 Ford F150
- 1993 - 1999 Ford F250 (gasoline engine)
- 1993 - 1996 Ford Bronco
- 1994 - 1996 Ford Econoline
- 1997 - 2002 Ford Expedition
- 1998 - 2002 Lincoln Navigator
- 1998 - 2002 Ford Ranger
- 1992 - 1998 Ford Crown Victoria, Mercury Grand Marquis and Lincoln Town Car
- 1993 - 1998 Lincoln Mark VIII
- 1993 - 1995 Ford Taurus SHO with automatic transmission
- 1994 - Mercury Capri
- 1998 - 2001 Ford Explorer and Mercury Mountaineer
- 2001 - 2002 Ford Explorer Sport and Explorer Sport Trac
- 1992 - 1993 and 1997 - 2003 Ford E-150-350 gasoline or natural gas vehicles
- 2002 - Ford E-550 gasoline engine vehicles
- 1996 - 2003 Ford E-450 gasoline or natural gas vehicles
- 1994 - 2002 Ford F-250 through F-550 super Duty trucks (gasoline engine)
- 2000 - 2002 Ford Excursion (gasoline engine)
- 2003 - F250 - F550 Super Duty, Ford Excursion
- 1995 - 2002 Ford F53 Motor home chassis
- 2002 - 2003 Lincoln Blackwood