February 28, 2008

4 Million Fords Still Need Cruise Control Switch Fix

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WASHINGTON, D.C. --- The National Highway Safety  Administration is advising owners of more than 4 million unrepaired Ford vehicles that the vehicles pose a fire risk because of a defective cruise control deactivation switch and the owners need to "immediately" get it fixed.

The Detroit News reported that Ford will have an adequate supply of parts to repair the trucks and vans by June.

Ford has urged owners to take vehicles into dealerships to get their cruise control deactivated in the interim.

Ford expanded its recall by 3.6 million vehicles last August, but NHTSA has since received about 60 complaints of fires, the Detroit News reported.

In a statement, NHTSA said: "Many dealers will perform this as a 'drive through' service so owners do not have to leave their vehicles at the dealership or schedule an appointment in advance. Failure to have the switch disconnected could lead to a vehicle fire at any time, whether or not the key is in the ignition, and whether or not owners use the cruise control system. The safety agency said the fire danger is present regardless of the age of the vehicle, and could even occur while the vehicle is parked and unattended."

Since 1999, Ford has had seven separate recalls of a total of 9.6 million vehicles, including 220,000 vehicles re-recalled earlier this month, the Detroit News reported. The $21 Texas Instruments switches were installed in 16 million Ford vehicles before the automaker stopped using them in 2002.

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