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Ford Recalls 155,000 Pickup Trucks and SUVs
The Daily Auto Insider
Tuesday, March 6, 2007
March 2007


Ford recalled about 155,000 pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles — including 2003 F-150, F-250, F-350, F-450 and F-550 Super Duty truck, the Ford Excursion SUV and the Lincoln Blackwood pickup — to repair a cruise control switch, according to an Associated Press report.

Ford previously recalled 5.8 million vehicles in the past two years because of engine fires linked to the cruise control systems in trucks, SUVs and vans. That recall, one of the largest in history, covered vehicles from the 1994-2002 model years, the story said.

Ford officials said an internal check found the switch systems in some early 2003 trucks and SUVs, and the company acted to allow owners to get it repaired. The switch system could corrode over time, overheat and ignite although there were no reports of fires in the 2003 vehicles.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration completed an extensive investigation last year into the cause of the fires. Although NHTSA has received 1,472 complaints connected to the problems, including 65 reports of fires, the safety agency has said there have been no confirmed deaths or injuries.

To fix the problem, dealers install a fused wiring harness to the cruise control deactivation switch to prevent the risk of fire if the switch leaked.