From UPI
Ford Motor Co. launched its largest recall ever Tuesday, warning drivers of 4.5 million cars and trucks a badly designed switch could cause vehicle fires.
Wes Sherwood, a spokesman for the company, said the recall includes the remaining vehicles equipped with a cruise control deactivation switch made by Texas Instruments, CNN reported. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says the switch can be dangerous even when the ignition is off, with a risk of hydraulic fluid leaks.
A total of 16 million vehicles have been involved in eight recalls, NHTSA said. Sherwood said no vehicles made after 2003 have the switch.
NHTSA said there are warning signs a car is at high risk, including trouble shifting out of park, dashboard brake lights going on and malfunctioning cruise control and brakes.
The vehicles involved in the latest recall are: 1995-2003 Windstars, 2000-2003 Excursion diesels, 1993-1997 and 1999-2003 F-Super Duty diesels, 1992-2003 Econolines, 1995-2002 Explorers and Mercury Mountaineers, 1995-1997 and 2001-2003 Rangers and 1994 F35 motorhomes.
