Does Any One Drive a Ford Vehicle (Recall)

I like my Ford.

It's not in the recall though. Mine's newer.

I didn't see mine, a Windstar, on the list.

It would be real scary to have your steering column catch on fire.

Sunkissed27f said:

Well, I do.....and I got a recall.

This freaks me out!

I depend on my SUV.

The only dealership (in my town) can't get me a part, because they say they are on back order for the last 3 weeks.

The dealership can disconnect it, and thats about it.

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Did they disconnect it? Do you NEED cruise control? If it's disconnected, at least there's not the danger of fire.

Sunkissed27f said:

ETA: This news article was in August, I got my recall notice today!!

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My brother's truck was part of the earlier recall a couple years ago. I saw an article on cnn.com months before he got the recall notice. The actual fires are (relatively) rare, but the news articles telling of fires are scary.

Here are some CNN stories I found, with dates:

updated 1:33 p.m. EDT, Thu August 16, 2007
Ford recalling millions of vehicles because of faulty switches
http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/08/16/ford.recall/index.html?iref=newssearch

Ford recalling 3.8 million vehicles
Trucks and SUVs recalled for switch that could cause fires. Also, Toyota recalls nearly a million.
September 9, 2005; Posted: 3:53 p.m. EDT (1953 GMT)

http://www.cnn.com/2005/AUTOS/09/07/ford_recall/index.html?iref=newssearch


Ford cruise control switch FAQ
Friday, June 17, 2005 Posted: 3:54 AM EDT (0754 GMT)
http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/06/16/ford.vehicle.faq/index.html?iref=newssearch

Ford document: Millions of vehicles have fire risk part
Monday, June 27, 2005; Posted: 12:59 p.m. EDT (16:59 GMT)
http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/06/16/ford.vehicles/index.html?iref=newssearch

P.H.Delarran said:

It would be real scary to have your steering column catch on fire.

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It's not the switch on the steering that's the problem, it's under the hood near the brake master cylinder, it's the one that turns off the cruise control when you put on brakes. The switch always has electrical power going through it, even when the car is off. If there is a small brake fluid leak, it can leak onto the switch and ignite. This can happen at any time, while driving or with the car parked.

I'm sure that just made sunkissed feel a whole lot better

my mom had a ford torino once (this is going back many, many moons) where white smoke used to pour out of the steering column. That was it - just smoke. No mechanic could ever discover the reason. Nor could they make it happen - sometimes it did, sometimes it didn't.

Fords are weird.