Ford recalls 3.8 million pickups, SUVs

Seattle Post-Intelligencer ^ | Sept. 7, 2005 | Ken Thomas

[seacapn]

WASHINGTON -- Ford Motor Co. on Wednesday recalled 3.8 million pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles for a cruise control switch suspected of causing engine fires. It is the fifth largest auto industry recall in U.S. history.

Ford said the recall of 1994-2002 model-year vehicles includes the company's hot-selling F-150 pickup truck, Ford Expedition, Lincoln Navigator and Ford Broncos. The company said it would start sending out recall notices to vehicle owners immediately.

[seacapn]

Hmmmm...

[Corin Stormhands]

There was an earlier Ford Truck recall. Is this a different issue?

My F-150 is a 2004.

[EagleUSA]

The U.S. auto industry is really in trouble -- recent GM developments prove that -- and it all ripples down to quality of their products because that is what is being cut to provide for the socialistic union-pandering overhead costs that are KILLING this industry, just like it killed the steel industry in this country...

[cripplecreek]

It was tires before. I got a new set but I'm not going to screw with this recall.

[seacapn]

Sounds like this recall is wider, including trucks and SUVs. But it only goes from 1994 to 2002, so it sounds like you should be fine. I haven't used my cruise control much, but I'll get this looked into.

[Corin Stormhands]

Right, I remember now.

My ignition system was FUBARed. For a while I was apparently the only person who could get the truck to start. But they took care of that.

[Sam's Army]

Why people continue to buy Fords is beyond me.

(Flamesuit on)

[Maximus of Texas]

Ping

[seacapn]

To be honest, I haven't been that satisfied with the performance of my truck. It works alright most of the time - but it's all those times when it doesn't work that get to me...

Ford has some design issues that it needs to work out. I say that as an owner.

[Conspiracy Guy]

Compared to GM's or Chryslers the Fords are bullet proof.

[NRA1995]

Have you burned up your Ford lately?

[Clemenza]

Fix Or Return to Dealer

[blackie]

"The Ford F-series truck has been the best-selling full-size pickup for nearly three decades. In July, when the company offered its employee discount to all buyers, Ford's F-series set a record for the highest monthly sales of any vehicle since the 1920s with total sales of 126,905 trucks, or an average 4,880 each day for the 26 sales days that month."

Love my '01 F-150 SVT Lightning!!

[Maximus of Texas]

Does anyone happen to know where they draw their recall mailing list from? Is it at the state level so that they get all current owners, not just ones who bought from a Ford dealership?

[blackie]

Roger that and they have been for quite a few years!

[Corin Stormhands]

My guess is they use vehicle registrations. We bought a used Sable a number of years ago. I got all the recall notices for the Mercury Sable line.

[Spktyr]

This is an expansion of the truck fire problem.

Now, where's that FReeper that said that the problem was confined to 98-02 F-150s and Expeditions and that I was mistaken in saying that it was a LOT more widespread? I think I've just been vindicated, and I have a healthy serving of crow for you.

[cripplecreek]

The only real problem Ive had with my 95 F-150 is that the plastic in all of my door latching mechanisms is deteriorating all at once. Should have been made out of metal. I did change the alternator a few weeks back. It's been a great truck.

[Spktyr]

Doesn't matter if you use your cruise control or not, the circuit in question has power at *all* times, even when the truck is off.

[HEY4QDEMS]

I used to have a 1980 Chevy PU with outboard gas tanks.

In the 90s, GM refused to recall most of the affected trucks because they were to old ( I think the cutoff was 7 years).

This resulted in a class action suit that was eventually settled for which I received a coupon for $2000 toward the purchase of a new GM truck which I never used. I probably should have sold it for a couple hundred bucks.