November 23, 2007, 08:45:00AM. By Heidi Turner

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Washington, DC: People who purchased vehicles affected by the recent Ford recall are investigating the possibility of a lawsuit, alleging that Ford has failed to make replacement parts for the recall available.

Ford announced the recall in August 2007. At that time, it recalled 3.6 million passenger cars, trucks, vans and sport utility vehicles because of problems with the cruise control deactivation switch. The company said that it had received reports of fires in vehicles with faulty cruise control deactivation switches, leading to an announcement of the recall.

The problem is apparently a cruise control deactivation switch that can overheat and cause a fire under the hood of the vehicle. The switch involved in the recall was supplied by Texas Instruments, Inc. and shuts off the cruise control when the driver steps on the brakes firmly. The deactivation switch is attached on one end to the brake master cylinder and wired to the cruise control on the other end. On most vehicles the switch is powered all the time, even when the vehicle is off.

Fires can occur when the film that separates brake fluid from the electrical components in the deactivation switch breaks and the fluid seeps onto the electrical components.

The recall covers over a dozen vehicle models built between 1992 and 2004. At the time of the recall, Ford announced that owners would receive recall notices and would be advised that they could take their vehicles to a dealer to deactivate their cruise control until replacement parts were available. However, since that time the proper replacement parts have not been made available to all people affected by the recall.

Vehicles involved in the recall include the following:

1998-2002 Ford Ranger
1992-1997 Lincoln Town Car
1992-1997 Ford Crown Victoria
1992-1997 Mercury Grand Marquis
1993-1998 Lincoln Mark VIII
1993-1995 Taurus SHO
1999-2001 Ford Explorer
1999-2001 Mercury Mountaineer
2001-2002 Ford Explorer Sport
2001-2002 Ford Explorer Sport Trac
1992-1993 E150-350 Vans
1997-2002 E150-350 vans
1993 Ford F-Series pickups
1993 Ford Bronco
1994 Mercury Capri
2003-2004 Ford F0150 Lightning
1995-2002 Ford F53 motor homes.

At least one family lost a home after a fire started in their Ford vehicle. As reported by [KSDK,] the Brewster family's home burned down after their 2000 Ford Excursion caught fire in the garage. Robin Brewster happened to be coming home after the fire started and said he could see the fire falling from under the SUV. However, they also say the do not remember receiving a letter from Ford alerting them to the recall.

In fact, a number of homes have been destroyed by fire after vehicles with the faulty deactivation switches were parked in attached garages. At least one person has already filed a lawsuit, alleging that a fire started by the deactivation switch resulted in the death of a 74-year-old woman. That suit was filed in 2005.

Fires caused by the cruise control system have been an ongoing problem for Ford. Back in January 2005, Ford recalled almost six million vehicles, also because of engine fires related to the cruise control systems. Since 1999, Ford has issued six recalls, involving a total of over 10.4 million vehicles, because of problems with the cruise control system.

Apparently, despite six recalls and numerous reports of fire and injury, Ford still has not solved its cruise control deactivation switch problem and still has not been able to make replacement parts available to people who have defective switches in their vehicle.

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