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Ford Is Recalling 4.5m Vehicles to repair Texas Instruments cruise control switches cause fires

By Amarendra Bhushan for CEOWORLD Magazine Updated:October 14, 2009

Ford Motor Co. (NYSE:F) is recalling 4.5 million vehicles to repair defective cruise control switches which could cause fires. It’s the automaker’s eighth recall in a decade involving the same switch, which has resulted in the recall of more than 14 million vehicles.

The switch, made by Texas Instruments Inc., can leak and then overheat, smoke, or burn.

The defective cruise control switch can leak hydraulic fluid, overheat and then burn even with the ignition turned off. The switch, which is used to deactivate the cruise control function when the driver taps the foot brake, is manufactured by Texas Instruments.

The recall reportedly affects 1.1 million Ford Windstar minivans manufactured between 1995 through 2003, while the remaining 3.4 million vehicles included in the recall are Ford, Lincoln and Mercury models manufactured between 1992 and 2003.

The latest voluntary recall, which is Ford’s eighth since 1999, reportedly brings the company’s total vehicle recalls due to defective switches to approximately 14.3 million vehicles.

The carmaker intends to inform owners of the recalled vehicles beginning October 26, 2009 to repair the vehicle free of cost at its dealers.

The vehicles affected are Ford’s 1992-2003 Econoline vans, 2000-2003 Excursion sport utility vehicles, 1995-2002 Explorer SUVs, 1993-1997 and 1999-2003 F-Series Super Duty pickup trucks, 1994 F53 motor-home chassis, 1995-1997 and 2001-2003 Ranger pickups, 1995-2003 Windstar minivans, and 1995-2002 Mercury Mountaineer SUVs.

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