Ford has expanded its largest ever and longest-running recall – involving the checking of faulty cruise control deactivation switches that have caused fires – by 4.5m vehicles, according to regulators and company officials.
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The action effectively closes out a 10-year saga over the switches made by Texas Instruments that has led to over six recalls by Ford covering 14m registered vehicles, the automaker reportedly said in a letter to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
The government added 2m vehicles to the Ford total, factoring in models not believed to be on the road, a Reuters report noted.
“While the data show the majority of the vehicles being recalled do not pose a significant safety risk, we are recalling the vehicles to reassure consumers and eliminate any future concerns,” Ford said in a statement.
Ford did not say how much the latest recall would cost – it stopped using Texas Instruments’ switches in 2003.
Texas Instruments said in a statement that a former business unit designed and manufactured the switch to “meet and exceed” Ford specifications, and that it was not the “root cause” of fires. A 2006 NHTSA investigation, Texas Instruments said, concluded that multiple factors contributed to the fires.
The NHTSA on Tuesday alerted owners of over six Ford truck and van models sold in the United States and US territories of potential fire hazards linked to the flawed switches.
In a warning to consumers, government safety officials investigating the switches said leaking fluid can overheat and potentially cause fires even when the ignition is off. There have been fires reported over the years and some minor injuries, Ford said.
“I urge consumers to pay attention to this warning and bring the affected models in to have them repaired as soon as possible,” US government transportation secretary Ray LaHood said in a statement.
Ford said in its letter to NHTSA that it had noticed an increasing number of leaking switches on Windstar vans and a small number of switch fires had been reported. The automaker said it was unaware of any accidents or injuries involving the minivan fires.
Ford has decided to recall 1.1m Windstars made between 1995-2003. It included remaining models not covered in previous recalls even though there was no finding that the switches in those vehicles were unsafe.
“Ford is taking this action on all of these vehicles to address possible ongoing customer lack of confidence in vehicles with the affected switch,” the company said in the letter.
Other affected models include 2000-2003 Excursion diesels; 1993-1997 and 1999-2003 F-Super Duty diesels; 1992-2003 Econoline vans; 1995-2002 Ford Explorer and Mercury Mountaineer SUVs; 1995-1997 and 2001-2003 Ranger pickup trucks; and 1994 F53 motorhomes.
