Wilson
09-15-2007, 12:11 PM
http://www.click2houston.com/investigates/14093831/detail.html
Ford Vehicles Still Catch Fire
POSTED: 6:09 pm CDT September 11, 2007
UPDATED: 6:26 pm CDT September 11, 2007
HOUSTON -- For more than two years, Local 2 Investigates has been tracking fires linked to faulty cruise control deactivation switches in Ford vehicles. Even though several recalls have been issued, the fires keep happening, KPRC Local 2 reported Tuesday.
Nearly 10 million Ford pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles have been recalled because the switches have the potential to start engine fires.
Fire officials said they kept seeing fires because people are not heeding the warnings.Diana Sanchez and her family found their Ford F-150 on fire in the driveway.
"They were having dinner and I was in the living room when all of a sudden we heard something like an explosion," she said. "It was pretty big. I mean -- big enough to catch the house, like to get to the house. That was the most scary part." No one was hurt.
Investigators with the Montgomery County Fire Marshal's Office said the same faulty cruise control switch linked to hundreds of other fires across the country sparked the blaze."(We see) probably one a month at least during the past several months. We've had several this year already that we know of," said Jimmy William, the Montgomery County fire marshal.
Despite all the recalls, Williams said his office is continuing to see the fires for two reasons -- people get the recall notice but don't take the time to get the work done.
"And then the other one, which I think is going to become a bigger issue in the future is those vehicles are resold and new owners come into possession of them. They're going to assume those recalls have been done," Williams said.
Williams said the inherent trouble with any automotive recall comes when vehicles are sold at independent used car or consignment lots or through private individuals. When a recall is issued, notices go to the last known owners.
"Now if that vehicle has been sold or those people have moved, then that information may come back until such time it's registered again," said Jeff Smith with Helfman Ford.
Smith said that means some new owners may not get word of a recall. So, the safest thing to do is call the nearest Ford dealership to see if a vehicle was fixed.
"It takes five minutes at the most to check it and verify," Smith said.Owners with questions about the recall can contact Ford at (888) 222-2751.
On the Net:
Ford Recall Information (http://www.ford.com/en/vehicles/owners/recalls/default.htm)
Ford Motor Co.: www.ford.com (http://www.ford.com/)
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration: www.nhtsa.gov (http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/)More Information:
Letter From Ford To NHTSA (http://www.click2houston.com/download/2007/0803/13816724.pdf)
Includes Affected Models On Page 2 Previous Stories:
August 3, 2007: Ford Recalls 3.6 Million Vehicles (http://www.click2houston.com/automotive/13817597/detail.html) If you have a news tip or question for KPRC Local 2 Investigates, drop them an e-mail (Local2Investigates@click2houston.com) or call their tipline at (713) 223-TIPS (8477).
Ford Vehicles Still Catch Fire
POSTED: 6:09 pm CDT September 11, 2007
UPDATED: 6:26 pm CDT September 11, 2007
HOUSTON -- For more than two years, Local 2 Investigates has been tracking fires linked to faulty cruise control deactivation switches in Ford vehicles. Even though several recalls have been issued, the fires keep happening, KPRC Local 2 reported Tuesday.
Nearly 10 million Ford pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles have been recalled because the switches have the potential to start engine fires.
Fire officials said they kept seeing fires because people are not heeding the warnings.Diana Sanchez and her family found their Ford F-150 on fire in the driveway.
"They were having dinner and I was in the living room when all of a sudden we heard something like an explosion," she said. "It was pretty big. I mean -- big enough to catch the house, like to get to the house. That was the most scary part." No one was hurt.
Investigators with the Montgomery County Fire Marshal's Office said the same faulty cruise control switch linked to hundreds of other fires across the country sparked the blaze."(We see) probably one a month at least during the past several months. We've had several this year already that we know of," said Jimmy William, the Montgomery County fire marshal.
Despite all the recalls, Williams said his office is continuing to see the fires for two reasons -- people get the recall notice but don't take the time to get the work done.
"And then the other one, which I think is going to become a bigger issue in the future is those vehicles are resold and new owners come into possession of them. They're going to assume those recalls have been done," Williams said.
Williams said the inherent trouble with any automotive recall comes when vehicles are sold at independent used car or consignment lots or through private individuals. When a recall is issued, notices go to the last known owners.
"Now if that vehicle has been sold or those people have moved, then that information may come back until such time it's registered again," said Jeff Smith with Helfman Ford.
Smith said that means some new owners may not get word of a recall. So, the safest thing to do is call the nearest Ford dealership to see if a vehicle was fixed.
"It takes five minutes at the most to check it and verify," Smith said.Owners with questions about the recall can contact Ford at (888) 222-2751.
On the Net:
Ford Recall Information (http://www.ford.com/en/vehicles/owners/recalls/default.htm)
Ford Motor Co.: www.ford.com (http://www.ford.com/)
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration: www.nhtsa.gov (http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/)More Information:
Letter From Ford To NHTSA (http://www.click2houston.com/download/2007/0803/13816724.pdf)
Includes Affected Models On Page 2 Previous Stories:
August 3, 2007: Ford Recalls 3.6 Million Vehicles (http://www.click2houston.com/automotive/13817597/detail.html) If you have a news tip or question for KPRC Local 2 Investigates, drop them an e-mail (Local2Investigates@click2houston.com) or call their tipline at (713) 223-TIPS (8477).