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Ford Explorer, Expedition, F-150, Windstar Cruise Control Fire Recall - Class Action
Kenner Schmitt Nygaard is investigating vehicle fires in
Ford F-series pick-ups, Mercury Mountaineers and Ford SUVs. These
vehicles can suddenly “ignite”, resulting in both property damage and
personal injury. Despite a 2007 recall, thousands of the vehicles
remain on the road without having been fixed, and a faulty switch
replaced.
In one case that is pending, a young girl was sleeping in
her bed when the family’s 2001 F-150 pick- up parked in the garage
below suddenly ignited, burning down half the house. Unfortunately, the
fire consumed her bedroom. A wrongful death case has been filed.
Another vehicle owner watched as his Mercury suddenly ignited while
parked outside his home.
Ford recalled several vehicles, including SUV’s (Broncos,
Expeditions, Explorers) and Ford F series pick-ups because it
determined that a “brake pressure switch”, which turns off the cruise
control, was defective. It is positioned above flammable reservoirs of
brake fluid. Ford designed the switch so that it is always “on”, even
when the vehicle is turned off and the key is not in the ignition.
Only a thin barrier separates the brake fluid from the switch’s
electrical components. If the barrier cracks and brake fluid from the
master cylinder runs into the electrical side of the switch, a fire can
start. This has happened even when the engine is off and some
combustions have occurred when the vehicle has been sitting for days.
If you have had a vehicle fire, you should contact your
insurance company. Make sure to preserve the physical evidence needed
to establish your claim. You should also report the fire to the U.S.
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration at
http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/
Ford has recalled 12 million vehicles with faulty cruise
control switches. Owners can take their vehicle to a Ford dealership
for a new cruise control switch. This simple change will prevent the
vehicle from having an engine fire. However, according to the
National High Traffic Safety Administration, by May of 2010, just
over half of the owners of these vehicles have responded. There are
still 5 million vehicles on the road that need to have the switch
replaced, and which can otherwise catch fire.
An alternative “fix” is to simply de-activate the cruise control until the part can be replaced.
Just because a vehicle has been recalled does not insulate
Ford from liability if one of the vehicles does have an engine fire. A
recall is an effort to prevent problems for owners. The maker of a
faulty vehicle is required to recall it and fix it for free. However,
if you or your loved one has had a Ford or Mercury vehicle that has
caught fire, you can still recover for the lost property value or for
medical and other damages if someone was hurt. Time is of the essence
to any claim, so prompt action should be taken. 1998-2001 Ford
Explorers, Mercury Mountaineers, and 1993-2004 Ford F-250/350/450/550
series pick- ups have been recalled. However, we believe that other
Ford and Mercury models have the same switch problems.
Vehicle owners who have had a Ford or Mercury vehicle that
has caught fire, AND have sustained substantial damage to their
property or injury to a person as a result of the fire, can contact Kenner Schmitt Nygaard for a free consultation
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