Sourced From: New York Times, September 5, 2005
Fifth-Largest Recall Affects 3.8M Ford Pickups and SUVs Situation * Engine fires caused by brake fluid leak into cruise controlswitch prompts Ford recall* 3.8M fullsize SUVs and pickups being called back--5th largestrecall in history* NHTSA says 1,170 complaints of fires received, but Ford says nodeaths have resulted* At least 10M Ford vehicles use same Texas Instruments switch butrate of fires varies among models affected* Dealers to install fused wiring harness; acts as circuitbreaker, evens out electricity flow through cruise control Significant Points * NHTSA continuing inquiry into switch 'failure rate' saysspokeswoman Rae Tyson, even though Ford dropped Texas Instruments'switch in 2002 model year* Publicity could cause sales problem for Ford, since recalledvehicles involve popular F-150 pickups and Navigator/Expedition SUVsfrom 1997 to 2002* In added complication, Ford has installed similar cruise controldeactivation switches on 12.2M vehicles, but says fires haven't occurredon any of those models except 3.8M being recalled* Safety advocates say all 16M vehicles should be recalled andrepaired* Ford has changed stance toward recall w/ continued reports ofengine fires, which Ford now agrees do result from defective switches
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