Ford Recalls 4.6 Million Vehicles To Fix Cruise Control Problem
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has issued a call for some 4.6 million Ford vehicles built before 2002 to have their cruise control switches fixed or deactivated. The problem could lead to fire, and in fact the agency has received some 60 reports of fires just since last August, NHTSA said.
The cruise control switch at issue was used on millions of Fords but has not been installed in new vehicles since 2002. Its function is to deactivate cruise control when the driver brakes.
A sticky issue in the recall is some 200,000 trucks and vans that had already been repaired; the fix did not solve the problem, according to Ford, so they are being re-recalled to have the switches disabled until Ford can make enough parts to carry out the repair.
The automaker says it will be able to make the correct fix to passenger cars, which make up the bulk of the recall, immediately.
According to NHTSA, the risk of fire with the faulty switch continues whether or not the cruise control system is used and even when the key is not in the vehicle’s ignition. At least 550 vehicle fires have been blamed on the switch problem.
What this means to you: Another Ford recall that does little to polish the reputation of the Blue Oval. — Laura Sky Brown, Correspondent