Ford Motor Supplements A Safety Recall

DEARBORN, Mich., August 3, 2006 - Ford Motor Company announced today that it is supplementing the 2005 speed control deactivation system recall to include certain speed control-equipped gas or natural gas 1994-2002 F-250 through F-550 F-Super Duty trucks, 2000-2002 Excursions, 1994-1996 Econoline vans and 1996-2002 E-450 vans, as well as speed control-equipped 1998 Explorers and Mountaineers. Ford estimates that there are approximately 1.2 million of these vehicles currently on U.S. roads.

“Today’s action includes those vehicles that were identified as having a interaction issue between the speed control deactivation switch and the brake system that could, in rare cases, cause the switch to overheat and ultimately catch fire,” said Ray Nevi, assistant director, Ford Automotive Safety Office.

Last year, Ford conducted a recall of approximately five million vehicles to add a fused wiring harness to the speed control deactivation switch to eliminate the potential risk of fire if the switch leaked. The fused wiring harness cuts off the electrical current to the switch in the rare event there is increased current due to a leaking switch. Increased current can result in the switch overheating.

“Following last year’s recall, we indicated further analysis would continue to determine what vehicle characteristics were contributing to the potential for switch leakage,” said Nevi. “After a year of intensive research, including working with NHTSA’s engineers, we have concluded that certain factors on the affected vehicles may lead to the switch overheating.”

These factors include the specific orientation of the switch on the brake master cylinder and repeated high vacuum events at the switch due to typical brake system operation. It is the repeated high vacuum events that may cause some speed control deactivation switch seals to become more susceptible to failure, thus allowing brake fluid to pass through the seal to the electrical side of the switch. Brake fluid leaks into the switch can cause it to corrode and possibly overheat. The high vacuum events combined with the switch orientation increase the potential for a fire in these vehicles. Therefore, Ford is recalling these additional vehicles.

Ford has a sufficient supply of fused wiring harnesses to repair customers’ vehicles. Customers affected by this recall are instructed to take their vehicles to a Ford or Lincoln Mercury dealership to have fused wiring harness installed.

Owners of affected vehicles will be notified by mail shortly. Owners who have not already had their previously recalled vehicles repaired should contact their dealers to make arrangements for the repair.

Customers may get further information at www.genuineservice.com or they may contact Ford’s Customer Relationship Center at 1 - 888-222-2751 or view a message about this recall by visiting www.ford.com under the “Vehicle and Services” heading under the “Owners” and “Recalls” tabs.

Contact Information

Jennifer Moore

Safety and Environment, Corporate News Manager

Ford Motor Company

Contact via E-mail