Ford Recalls 4.5 Million Vehicles

2000 Ford Windstar

A minor issue with a cruise control switch may force American manufacturer Ford to recall some 4.5 million vehicles in the years to come. The same issue is already responsible for the recall of some 12 million vehicles in the last ten years, making it the largest recall in the history of the United States.

According to Ford documents sent to US regulators and quoted by Autonews, the models involved in the recall are Windstar minivans, built in between 1995 and 2003 (some 1.1 million, as the Associated Press says), as well as an additional 3.4 million vehicles which boast the faulty cruise control deactivation switch.

Ford posted a letter on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), naming the models to be recalled. Alongside the Windstars, subject to the recall are 2000-2003 Excursion, 1993-1997 and 1999-2003 F-Super Duty, 1992-2003 Econoline, 1995-2002 Explorer and Mountaineer, 1995-1997 and 2001-2003 Ranger and 1994 F53.

All these vehicles are equipped with Texas Instruments made speed control deactivation switch (SCDS). The faulty switch may leak internally and overheat, smoke or burn. The most obvious consequence of this is that the vehicle could catch fire.

"Though extremely low, there was found to be some risk of an unattended fire resulting from a leaking switch in Windstar vehicles," ford motivated its decision.

The solution to the problem is apparently simple, as Ford instructs both owners and dealers to fit a fuse wiring harness for the SCDS. All the tweaks will be made, as usual in such cases, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin on October 26.