Ford Cruise Control Recall
Ford Cruise Control Recall
Updates are in chronological order below the recall description.
Initial Recall: September 7, 2005: Ford Motor Company announced a massive safety recall on 1994-2002 vehicles to correct a problem that could cause the cruise control deactivation switch to overheat and create an underhood fire.
Ford found that brake fluid could leak through the cruise deactivation switch into the cruise system's electrical components and cause corrosion. Corrosion can cause a short and keep the cruise control from working, but in some cases it can lead to a higher flow of current that can overheat and cause a fire at the switch.
To repair trucks, Ford will install a jumper harness between the cruise control deactivation switch and the cruise mechanism. The harness will act as a circuit breaker and will turn off the current at the switch if the switch becomes shorted.
Parts for the repair weren't available as of the recall date, so Ford asks customers to take their vehicles to dealerships to have the cruise control deactivated until the harnesses are in stock.
Watch for a recall notice by mail if your vehicle is affected. You can read more details at www.genuineservice.com.
Ford is asking owners to take affected trucks and cars to a Ford dealership, where the cruise control parts will be either repaired or deactivated until parts are available to fix the problem. Cars can be repaired now. Truck parts should be available in June, 2008.
More models have been added to the recall list and some owners haven't responded to recall notices, leaving about 5 million vehicles at risk of fire.
Trucks
Cars
Ford will send letters to owners of affected vehicles from model years 1992-2003.
Updates are in chronological order below the recall description.
Initial Recall: September 7, 2005: Ford Motor Company announced a massive safety recall on 1994-2002 vehicles to correct a problem that could cause the cruise control deactivation switch to overheat and create an underhood fire.
Models Affected by Ford's Cruise Control Recall
- 1994-2002 Ford F-150s
- 1997-2002 Ford Expeditions
- 1998-2002 Lincoln Navigators
- 1994-1996 Ford Broncos with factory cruise control
Ford found that brake fluid could leak through the cruise deactivation switch into the cruise system's electrical components and cause corrosion. Corrosion can cause a short and keep the cruise control from working, but in some cases it can lead to a higher flow of current that can overheat and cause a fire at the switch.
Fixing the Problem
To repair trucks, Ford will install a jumper harness between the cruise control deactivation switch and the cruise mechanism. The harness will act as a circuit breaker and will turn off the current at the switch if the switch becomes shorted.
Parts for the repair weren't available as of the recall date, so Ford asks customers to take their vehicles to dealerships to have the cruise control deactivated until the harnesses are in stock.
Watch for a recall notice by mail if your vehicle is affected. You can read more details at www.genuineservice.com.
Possible Warning Signs Before a Fire
- Cruise system won't activate or stops working
- Brake lights stop working
- Low brake fluid
- ABS and brake warning lights illuminated on dash
- Inability to get the vehicle out of park
UPDATE: August, 2006
Ford added 1.2 million more vehicles to the cruise control recall. Now included are:- 1994 to 2002 F-250, F-350, F-450 and F-550 trucks
- 200 to 2002 Ford Excursions
- 1994 to 1996 Econoline vans
- 1996 to 2002 E-450 vans
- 1998 Ford Explorers and Mercury Mountaineers
UPDATE: September 9, 2008
A recording at Ford says that parts are now available for the final repair (you won't be without cruise). As of today about 5 million vehicles still need to be repaired.UPDATE: February 28, 2008
Ford is asking owners to take affected trucks and cars to a Ford dealership, where the cruise control parts will be either repaired or deactivated until parts are available to fix the problem. Cars can be repaired now. Truck parts should be available in June, 2008.
More models have been added to the recall list and some owners haven't responded to recall notices, leaving about 5 million vehicles at risk of fire.
Updated List of Recalled Vehicles
Trucks
- 1997-2002 Expedition
- 1998-2002 Navigator
- 2002-2003 Blackwood
- 1993-1996 Bronco
- 2000-2003 Excursion (built prior to 11/4/02)
- 1992-2003 Econoline E-150/250/350
- 1996-2003 Econoline E450
- 2002-2003 Econoline E550
- 1998-2002 Ranger
- 1998-2001 Explorer/Mountaineer
- 2001-2002 Explorer Sport (2 door) & Sport Trac
- 2003-2004 F-150 Lightning
- 1993-2003 F-Series (Under 8500 lb. GVW)
- 1993-2003 F-Series (over 8500 lb. GVW) – all plants except Cuautitlan
- 1994-2003 F-Series (over 8500 lb. GVW) – Cuautitlan built only prior to 1/7/03
- 1995-2002 F-53 Motorhome
Cars
- 1992-1998 Town Car
- 1992-1998 Crown Victoria
- 1992-1998 Grand Marquis
- 1993-1998 Mark VIII
- 1993-1995 Taurus SHO (automatic transmission)
- 1994 Capri
*equipped with speed control. Diesel engine equipped vehicles are excluded from recall
UPDATE: October 14, 2009
Ford added 4.5 million older model vehicles to the cruise control recall. The new list includes Windstar vans (which have experienced fires) and older Ford and Lincoln products with the same switches (which have not had reported fires, but use the same Texas Instrument switches).Ford will send letters to owners of affected vehicles from model years 1992-2003.
