Recall Redux: Ford recalls another 155,000 trucks and SUVs for cruise control fix
As if Ford didn't have enough problems, they also have to contend with the gift that keeps on giving: their cruise control switches. The company previously recalled 5.8 million vehicles because a manufacturing problem with the switch could cause a short, resulting in a "thermal event" (more commonly referred to as a fire). Now Ford has to add another 155,000 assorted F-Series trucks and SUVs to the tally. The affected vehicles are all from 2003 and they include the seldom-seen Lincoln Blackwood pickup (above). Of the millions of affected vehicles, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration got 1,472 customer complaints and 65 reported fires.
[Source: USA Today]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Phillip Ware-Ehlers 9:40PM (2/04/2008)
On Ford's recall on the cruise control issue. However, they
still to date do not have that one resolved. Ford was supposed to
have the part to fix that last year, and then I was told November
2007, and now I just called about it, and was told it will be spring
now. And to bring my F150 by a dealer to have the cruise control
disabled because even if I'm not using it, it can still catch on fire
in my driveway just sitting there. Go Figure. I think it's time for
a class action lawsuit on this one, because they obviously don't want
to fix what you paid high dollars for in the first place. They want
to just disable it, and hope the problem will go away.
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BobW1945 2:54PM (7/07/2009)
Good Morning from NH / First I'd like to inform you that I worked at Ford, Lincoln & Mercury dealerships in management for many years and drove SUV's as demo. I personally own two (2) Ford Motor Co product (04 Sable LS & 04 Explorer Limited). I have experienced since ownership (15,000 miles @ purchase), that when I use cruise control between speeds of 35-50 mph it was go into a shutdown mode. The dash lights (warning) brightly tell me that my engine has quit. At times it will automaticly recycle and start itself, but most of the time I need to put in neutral, restart w/o a problem} and return to the drive and continue on my way. Please don't tell me that I'm not supposed to use cruise between 35-50 MPH, I've been doing it for 30 plus years. Any intelligent technical answers to this issue? Local garage has "no idea" and can't duplicate the problem....don't we always hear that? Solutions please.
Bob
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Tim 10:30AM (3/06/2007)
"I'd rather deal with a fires than sludgy engines". Detroit Fanboy
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Dummy 10:34AM (3/06/2007)
Yes fire good - sludge bad
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Gary Z 10:44AM (3/06/2007)
Okay, there's the bell ringing for round 1. Domestic fans in the red corner, imports in the blue corner.
Let the back and forth hate over who makes better/crappier vehicles begin !!!!
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toyota4life 10:40AM (3/06/2007)
TIM,what a dumb ass ,i would take sludge and balljoint any day over getting roast ,you better drive in your fire suit
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Don 10:59AM (3/06/2007)
Sad Sad Sad The Only Thing That Ford Has Going For it Is Selling Re badged Mazdas Best car never built by Ford
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Tim 10:51AM (3/06/2007)
toyota4life
I was being sarcastic...c'mon dude
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Accordsforall 10:55AM (3/06/2007)
Hmmm
Yup.. let the "my domestic is better than you import because..." battles begin...
This SHit is gettin old...
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toyota4life 10:56AM (3/06/2007)
#5,its hard to tell since you brought up sludge,but im still laughing at the comment
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whofan 11:04AM (3/06/2007)
Sludge or Fire? Thats why I drive GM and Chrysler.
All companys have their problems. Some people tend to have better luck with certain makes than others.
You can`t tie a name on luck it varies to idividual experience.
I hope Ford can put their electrical problems to rest. This is really hurting them bad. Their poor dealers don`t help either.
Chrysler has been best for me in my area.
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Accordsforall 11:28AM (3/06/2007)
Hmmmm
Ya know #10.. GM has a recall out on its speedos.. turns out theres a big scandal surrounding that. As for the Honda Odo recall... = old news.
But its funny how you said "Thats why I drive GM and Chrysler." Wait a coupla months.. and they will be the same company.. then you can deal with the the GM quality isses..
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toyota4life 11:51AM (3/06/2007)
yea i would not gloat much about gm and chrysler,along with all the recalls from gm the grand prixs are now catching fire shortly after parking it ,advice ,park around the block ,not in your garage,and chrysler had the worste recall rate in 2006 ,dodge ram had 6 to 7 recalls in one year
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MikeW 12:05PM (3/06/2007)
What if your sludge was on fire?
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dejal 12:11PM (3/06/2007)
But, the Ford F150s seen in the "behind the scenes" of the making of the Toyota commercial didn't catch on fire. So, that makes Fords better than Toyota.
Also truth, justice and the American way.
I think.
Maybe.
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Dummy 12:17PM (3/06/2007)
#13 mmmm bbq'd sludge
i dunno why toyota wasts al that guud sludge puttin it in der mowters
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Avinash machado 12:29PM (3/06/2007)
Well I guess all brands have problems from time to time. This includes Toyota as well and not just the domestics.
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That One Person 1:05PM (3/06/2007)
Only 45% of people contacted got their vehicles repaired? Who wants to bet that some of those people who were too lazy/dumb to do anything about this problem (ie. take their vehicle in or disconnect the power supply like Ford said) will turn around and sue Ford and claim they werent told.
Has Ford gone after Texas Instruments and Dupont about this (read some articles on this problem...Dupont played a part, too)?
And while I know no fires should have started but there was only 65 reported fires? For some odd reason, people were making it sound like hundreds of houses burned down. And no reported deaths? Not according to other news sources. But even those were vague...
Ford needs to clean this mess up. Luckily, of all the people I know with F-150s and Expeditions and all that, none of their vehicles have burst into flames.
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GM WHO? 1:23PM (3/06/2007)
FREE Stop Drop and Roll lessons with every Ford Truck
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Bryan 1:56PM (3/06/2007)
At least Ford is recalling them and not telling their customers "it's your fault!". Hmmm 3500 sludge ups, 65 fires. Ford needs to take Texas Instruments down like Firestone! And this is coming from a Texan! I did hear though that the switch issue primarily is causing fires in warmer climates, like here in Houston. However, I have only heard of a few fires here on the news from it. My grandfather is part of the 45% who actually got off of their butts and had it properly taken care of. At least this situation is controllable, unlike your engine just quitting on you in the middle of driving down a freeway or highly traveled road from sludge!
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