Ford Cruise Control Switch Fires Lawsuit

Ford Recall Lawsuit Update — According to Safety Forum, Ford Motor Co. has announced the recall of an additional 3.6 million passenger cars, trucks, sport-utility vehicles and vans to fix a cruise-control switch that has been linked to at least 1,100 engine fires and prompted five previous recalls beginning in January 2005. The recall includes 177,000 vehicles in Mexico, Canada and Europe. The company has cumulatively recalled almost 10.3 million vehicles but still leaves 5.7 million vehicles at risk.

The National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration (NHTSA) has reported receiving 1,472 complaints connected to the cruise control defect, including 559 vehicle fires. Of the 559 vehicle fires, 253 of them were in “unrecalled models”.  Our law firm continues to be contacted by people reporting vehicle fires that they believe to be caused by the defective cruise control switches.

If you own a vehicle manufactured by Ford (on the recall list below) that has caught on fire and suffered (i) severe personal injury, (ii) wrongful death, or (iii) substantial property damage/loss, you should contact us immediately. You may be entitled to compensation and we can help.

Understanding the Cruise Control Switch

Within the Ford cruise control system is the “speed control deactivation switch”, also know as the “brake pressure switch”. The brake pressure switch shuts off the cruise control when the driver steps on the brakes. The switch is attached to the brake master cylinder on one end and wired to the cruise control system on the other. The switch is separated from the brake master cylinder by a thin film barrier. The switch was designed to always be “powered on” or “hot”, even while the vehicle is turned off and the keys have been taken out of the ignition.

What is the Problem?

The only thing separating the electrical powered cruise control switch from the brake master cylinders flammable fluid is the thin barrier. Furthermore, investigators have noticed that the film barrier has a tendency to corrode overtime.

The problem is the fact that the cruise control switch is too close to flammable fluids and the fact that Ford designed the switch to always be “powered on” or “hot”, even while the vehicle is turned off and the keys have been taken out of the ignition.

Therefore, the vehicle fires generally occur when the film barrier separating the switch and the brake master cylinder corrodes and cracks allowing the brake fluid from to seep into the electrical side of the switch.

Ford Recall List – Defective Cruise Control Switch

If you own any of the vehicles listed below, you should take it in to a Ford dealership to have the cruise control switch disconnected or replaced for free.

• 1992-1997 Crown Victoria
• 1992-1993 E150-350 van
• 1997-2002 E150-350 van
• 1996-2002 E450 van
• 1994-1996 Econoline van
• 2000-2002 Excursion
• 1997-2002 Expedition
• 1998-2001 Explorer
• 2001-2002 Explorer Sport
• 2001-2002 Explorer Sport Trac
• 1993-1996 Bronco
• 1994-2002 F150
• 2003-2004 F150 Lightning
• 1994-2002 F250
• 1994-2002 F350
• 1994-2002 F450
• 1995-2002 F53 motor homes
• 1994-2002 F550
• 1993 Ford F-Series pickups
• 2001 F-Series SuperCrew
• 2002 Lincoln Blackwood
• 1993-1998 Lincoln Mark VIII
• 1998-2002 Lincoln Navigator
• 1992-1997 Lincoln Town Car
• 1994 Mercury Capri
• 1992-1997 Mercury Grand Marquis
• 1998-2001 Mercury Mountaineer
• 1998-2002 Ranger
• 1993-1995 Taurus SHO

Non-Recalled Vehicle List

There are still over 9.3 million vehicles on the road that have not been recalled but have the same or similar defective cruise control switch. If you own any of the vehicles listed below, you should take it in to a Ford dealership to have the cruise control switch disconnected or replaced. 

• 1997-2002 Econoline
• 1995-2002 Explorer without IVD
• 1994-1998 Lincoln Mark VII
• 1993-1995 Mercury Sable
• 1993-1995 Taurus
• 1994-2002 Windstar

Signs of a Problem

The following signs could indicate that you have a problem with your cruise-control switch:

• cruise control is not working properly;
• brake fluid is leaking around the switch;
• fuses are blown near the switch; or
• the fuse for the speed control cannot be opened.

Do I have a Ford Cruise Control Switch Fire Lawsuit?

The Products Liability Litigation Group at our law firm is an experienced team of trial lawyers that focus exclusively on the representation of plaintiffs in product liability lawsuits. We are handling individual litigation nationwide and currently accepting new cruise control switch fire cases in all 50 states.

If you own a vehicle manufactured by Ford (on the recall list below) that has caught on fire and suffered (i) severe personal injury, (ii) wrongful death, or (iii) substantial property damage/loss, you should contact us immediately. You may be entitled to compensation and we can help.