By The Associated press - The following recalled vehicles were listed Thursday under a consumer advisory issued by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The government said owners of certain unrepaired vehicles should bring them to dealerships to disconnect faulty cruise control switch systems that have been linked to engine fires.

The vehicles covered by the advisory include:

• 1993-2004 Ford F150 trucks
• 1993-1999 F250 trucks with gasoline engines
• 1993-1996 Ford Bronco sport utility vehicles
• 1994-1996 Econoline vans
• 1997-2002 Ford Expedition
• 1998-2002 Lincoln Navigator SUVs
• 1998-2002 Ford Ranger trucks
• 1992-1998 Ford Crown Victoria, Mercury Grand Marquis and Lincoln Town Cars
• 1993-1998 Lincoln Mark VIII
• 1993-1995 Ford Taurus SHO with automatic transmissions
• 1994 Mercury Capri
• 1998-2001 Ford Explorer and Mercury Mountaineer SUVs
• 2001-2002 Ford Explorer Sport and Explorer Sport Trac SUVs
• 1992-1993 and 1997-2003 Ford E150-350 gasoline or natural gas vehicles
• 2002 E550 gasoline engine vehicles
• 1996-2003 E450 gasoline or natural gas vehicles
• 1994-2002 F250 through F550 Super Duty trucks with gasoline engines
• 2000-2002 Ford Excursions with gasoline engines
• 2003 F250-F550 Super Duty trucks
• 2003 Ford Excursion
• 1995-2002 Ford F53 motor home chassis
• 2002-2003 Lincoln Blackwood

Source: The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

The Associated Press: Ford Vehicles Covered by Warning

On February 19, 2008 the Texas Judicial Panel on Multidistrict litigation ordered the transfer of 77 pending cases against Ford Motor Company which are filed in 28 different counties, involving Ford’s recalled speed control deactivation switches in various model vehicles, to one court for coordinated pretrial proceedings.

The order has no direct effect on existing trial settings. A pre-trial judge will rule on pretrial matters, including whether and when to remand cases for trial on the merits.

These cases involve a speed control deactivation switch which is part electrical and part hydraulic. The federal government, NHTSA, has issued a report of their findings regarding the cause of the fires and the mechanisms of failure of the switches. Ford's first recall in May of 1999 involved early model vehicles and has been expanded to include approximately 10 million vehicles spanning years 1992-2002. Houssiere, Durant and Houssiere, LLP and Lieff, Cabraser, Heimann & Bernstein, LLP are jointly handling cases in the state of Texas and across the United States. These fires, if they occur, can endanger lives and property, should such property come in contact with a fire started by a defective SCDS system. Both law firms will continue to prosecute these cases to conclusion for injured parties.

Here is an article detailing another Ford recall related to the cruise control deactivation switch (Aug. 3, 2007).
Ford recalls 3.6 million vehicles over switch

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Ford is recalling 3.8 Million Pickups and SUVs, including the Popular F-150 and Expedition models. The automaker is recalling a wide range of 1994-2002 model-year vehicles to fix cruise-control switches linked to more than 1,100 engine fires. Early in 2005 Ford had announced a more limited recall. The NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) has said at least 1,170 fires have now been reported, and the agency is continuing its investigation despite Ford's newest recall announcement.

The affected models are 1994-2002 F-150 and F-150 SuperCrew pickups; 1997-2002 Ford Expeditions; 1998-2002 Lincoln Navigators; and 1994-1996 Ford Broncos.

If you or someone you care about has been affected by one of these vehicles, it is important for you to know your legal rights and options. Contact us today!

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration ("NHTSA") has launched an investigation after 36 reports of engine fires that may be related to a cruise-control deactivation switch. Nearly all of the fires have occurred while the vehicles were parked and the engine turned off.

According to NHTSA, the switch is located in the engine compartment directly beneath the brake fluid reservoir, which is made of plastic. When the switch malfunctions, it becomes extremely hot and melts the brake fluid reservoir. The brake fluid, a flammable fluid, then drips on the switch causing a fire.

The manufacturer of the switch, Texas Instruments Inc., has lost more than $2 million in lawsuits involving the switch it made for Ford Motor Co. that allegedly caused underhood fires resulting in damage to vehicles, homes, and even personal injuries.

These lawsuits were originally brought due to fires resulting from switches in 1992 and 1993 models of Lincoln Town Car, Ford Crown Victoria and Mercury Grand Marquis. In fact, in May of 1999, Ford recalled 262,695 of those vehicles, warning that a "defective" switch could short-circuit, possibly causing smoke of fire.

However, recent investigations reveal that F-150's, Navigators, and Expeditions have experienced fires that may be related to the switch malfunctioning. These fires have destroyed vehicles, burned down homes, and have even caused death.

The firm is currently handling several similar Ford fire cases in which homes or businesses were destroyed in addition to the loss of the vehicle. If you, a family member or friend has experienced a fire in any of the above-mentioned Ford vehicles, please call our firm immediately.