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Feds Probe Cruise-Control Fires in Ford Trucks

March 23, 2005
Hundreds of Ford truck owners not included in a recent recall have asked ConsumerAffairs.com why there is no federal probe of cruise-control problems with their trucks. Now a federal investigation into those problems is underway.

Flaming Fords • Ford Recalls Millions of Vehicles to Fix Fire Danger • 1.6 Million Ford Windstars Investigated for Fire Hazard • NHTSA Issues Second Fire Warning for Ford Cars, Trucks, and SUVs • Report: Millions of Fire-Prone Fords Still on the Roads • Ford: Parts Now Available to Fix Faulty Cruise Control • Ford Trucks Burn in Virginia, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina • Feds Probe Ford Windstar for Fire Hazard • Ford Truck Suspected in North Texas House Fire • Ford Cruise Control Fire Strikes Florida Car Dealership • Ford Hopes to Wind Down Recall of Fire-Prone Vehicles • Ford Expedition Suspected in Fatal Ohio Home Fire • Ford Fires Continue Despite Long-Delayed Federal Warning • Feds Warn Some Ford Trucks and Cars Can Erupt in Flames • Ford Fire Lawsuits Spread • Ford Recalls 57,000 More Trucks, SUVS for Fire Hazard • Ford Fires Strike in Minnesota, California • Ford Plans Another Recall to Fix Fire Hazard • Ford Fire Hazard Recall Creeps Along • Ford Escape, Mazda Tribute Continue Ford Fire Tradition • Ford Fires Kill Pets and Spread Despair as Year Ends • Ford Lacks Parts for Fire Recall Repair • New F150 Erupts in Flames as Ford Truck Fires Rage On • Red Hot Texas Car-B-Que • Kerry Vows Action to Get Flaming Fords Off the Road • Flaming Ford Scandal Disgraces Ford, Feds • Ford Tries Again to Fix Fire Problem with Massive Recall • One Ford the Recall Missed • Ford Stops Sales of Big Super Duty, Recalls 2008 Trucks • Ford Recalls 155,000 More Trucks to Fix Fire Hazard • Feds Probe Fires in Ford Escape, Mazda Tribute • Feds Wind Up Ford Engine Fire Probe with Massive Recall • Ford Truck Fires Mount as Recall Rolls Slowly • Ford Trucks Burn As Recall Fiddles • Ford Truck Fire Fix Delayed by Parts Shortage • Ford Recalls 4 Million Trucks to Fix Fire Risk • Nader Demands NHTSA Warn Ford Truck Owners • Wrongful Death Suit Charges House Fire Started in F-150 • Feds Look Deeper for Ford Fire Causes • Recall Leaves Many Questions Unanswered • Houston Lawyers Sue Ford • Ford Recalls Some Fire-Prone Models • Feds Probe Ford F-150 Engine Fires • Ford Recall Was Biggest Ever --- • Bronco • Crown Victoria • Dump truck • Expedition • Explorer • F-150 • Other F-Series Trucks • Focus • Mustang • Ranger Pickup • Taurus • Windstar

The investigation involves an estimated 3.7 million Ford F-150s, Ford Expeditions and Lincoln Navigators, although consumers have also reported similar fires in other Ford truck models.

The possible defect in cruise-control mechanisms can cause a vehicle to catch on fire when the engine is off. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that it is looking at 1995-1999 and 2001-2002 F-150s as well as 1997-1999 and 2001-2002 Expeditions and Navigators.

Since the fires start when the vehicles are parked and unattended, there have been many instances of damage to homes and other vehicles.

• Harold of El Cajon, Calif., parked his F-150 at his son's condo. It burst into flames, destroying Harold's truck, his son's Volvo and most of the condo.
• Norma of Santa Barbara was sound asleep when her neighbor's Ford Ranger burst into flames, starting a fire that destroyed her car and sent pieces of hot metal crashing into the living room of a nearby home. Norma has not been able to recover any damages and has no way to get to work.
• Shannon of Tampa was also sleeping when her Expedition caught fire in the middle of the night. She, her husband and two children escaped but their home was damaged and uninhabitable for four months. "Ford treated us horribly during our ordeal," Shannon told ConsumerAffairs.com.
• When Miguel's Expedition caught fire, it also destroyed his Toyota 4Runner, a boat and his carport.

A federal investigation into the same defect in the 2000 model year of the vehicles recently ended, with the NHTSA saying the problems with those automobiles were adequately dealt with by a Ford recall. Ford recalled the 2000 vehicles on January 27.

However, the recall has done nothing to help those whose trucks and other belongings may have already been destroyed by fire. Take Randy of Diboll, Texas. He lost not only his 2000 F-150 but three guns and ammunition, other vehicles parked nearby ... and his divorce papers.

"It was the best truck I have ever had," Randy said ruefully.

Ford refuses to offer assistance to victims of the fires and disclaims any knowledge of why so many fires have occurred under simiar circumstances.

"We're working closely with NHTSA on the issue," said Ford spokeswoman Kristen Kinley. "We'll continue to cooperate with the agency until the matter is closed."

"Fires happen for a variety of reasons ranging from faulty repair, improper modification to the vehicle with after-market parts and wiring, prior accident damage, and even arson," Kinley said. "This is why each complaint or allegation must be reviewed on a case-by-case basis."

In the current investigation, at least 218 problems involving cruise control deactivation switch failures and related engine-compartment fires have been reported to NHTSA, the agency said. By expanding the investigation NHTSA says that "we will optimize our ability to identify the problem's root cause.

NHTSA is among the last to admit that the problem extends beyond the 2000 model year. Dimitri of Baltimore was relieved when he heard about the recall of the 2000 Expeditions, since his was a 1997.

"Boy was I wrong," said Dimiti. His Expedition caught fire and burned a few nights later at the gym, destroying another SUV parked next to it.

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