1996 FORD BRONCO Vehicle Speed Control Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD BRONCO. WHILE PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE WITH A FIRE EXTINGUISHER BUT WAS UNABLE TO CONTROL THE FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORTED TO THE SCENE AND A REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 05V388000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) BUT WAS ADVISED BY THE MANUFACTURER THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE WAS 180,000.

Mileage: 180,000

1996 FORD BRONCO CAUGHT FIRE OVER WEEKEND WHILE MY FAMILY AND I WERE DRIVING HOME. MONDAY FORD HAD IT TOWED INTO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP TO REPAIR AND NOW, THREE DAYS LATER THEY ARE TELLING ME THAT THEY WILL NOT REPAIR IT SINCE I KNEW ABOUT THE PROBLEM. I ARGUED THAT I HAD NO IDEA AND THEY SAY THAT THEY MAILED ME A CARD AT THE END OF 2007. THE VEHICLE IS AT THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY WANT ME TO COME PAY CASH FOR THE REAPAIRS. PLEASE HELP.

Mileage: 209,650

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS 1996 FORD BRONCO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH WAS ENGAGED, THE VEHICLE BEGIN TO ACCELERATE BEYOND ITS SET SPEED. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 55 MPH. THE CONTACT DID NOT CALL THE MANUFACTURER. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE CRUISE CONTROL WITH A USED CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH AND THAT HAS REMEDIED THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAULTY CRUISE CONTROL COULD HAVE CAUSED A CRASH. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 203,000.

Mileage: 203,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD BRONCO. SPARKS WERE DRIPPING BELOW THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT'S NEIGHBOR ATTEMPTED TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE WITH THE GARDEN HOSE, BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. EVENTUALLY, SEVERAL NEIGHBORS WERE ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FLAMES WITH GARDEN HOSES AND FIRE EXTINGUISHERS. THE FLAMES APPEARED FROM THE DRIVER'S SIDE WHEEL AND INSIDE THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. THE POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS WERE CALLED TO THE SCENE AND A REPORT WAS FILED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CONTINUED TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THEY ALSO DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY IN FEAR THAT IT MAY CAUSE AN ELECTRICAL FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS DEEMED AS DESTROYED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 130,000. UPDATED 4/28/09 *CN UPDATED 04/30/09.*JB UPDATED 12/08/09. *LJ UPDATED 12/10/09.*JB

Mileage: 130,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD BRONCO. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN A LOT, IT SUDDENLY CAUGHT FIRE. FLAMES AND SMOKE APPEARED FROM THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE AND A REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT YET BEEN REPAIRED. THROUGH NUMEROUS RESEARCH, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 05V388000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). HE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY ACKNOWLEDGED THE DEFECT AND STATED THAT THEY WOULD INVESTIGATE TO DETERMINE IF THE FIRE WAS LINKED TO THE RECALL. THE CONTACT BELIEVES THAT HE SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 136,000.

Mileage: 136,000

MY VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE YARD FOR SEVERAL HOURS, AND I WAS WORKING IN MY SHOP ABOUT 30 FEET AWAY. I STARTED SMELLING BURNING PLASTIC, AND I THOUGHT THAT THE NEIGHBORS WERE BURNING TRASH. WHEN THE ODOR BECAME STRONGER, I LOOKED OUT THE DOOR OF MY SHOP. THERE WAS SMOKE POURING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD, AND FROM THE FRONT OF THE GRILLE. I RAN AND GOT THE GARDEN HOUSE, AND STUCK IT IN THE WHEELWELL, IN A HOLE THAT HAD BURNED THROUGH THE INNER FENDER. ONCE THE FIRE SEEMED NEARLY OUT, I OPENED THE HOOD TO FINISH QUENCHING THE FLAMES. *TR

DROVE 1996 FORD BRONCO 3 BLOCKS AND PARKED IT IN CLOSED UP GARAGE. CAME BACK A FEW DAYS LATER AND FOUND IT BURNT UP. FIRE BURNT UNDER HOOD AND DASH. IT SCORCHED THE VEHICLE PARKED NEXT TO IT AND DAMAGED INSIDE OF GARAGE. *TR

Mileage: 140,000

I WAS DRIVING, CAME HOME AT 11PM, AT 11:30PM THE HORN WAS BLOWING ON MY 1996 FORD BRONCO, WENT OUTSIDE TO FIND IT HAD COMPLETELY BURNED IN A FIRE - SITTING IN MY DRIVEWAY, NOT RUNNING, KEYS OUT OF THE VEHICLE. HAD TO CALL FIRE COMPANY TO EXTINGUISH, POLICE WERE HERE ALSO - DID SOME INTERNET SEARCHING TO FIND THIS IS A MAJOR ISSUE, WAS RECOMMENDED TO REPORT TO YOU. *TR

Mileage: 160,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD BRONCO. THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE AFTER BEING PARKED FOR 20 MINUTES. THE VEHICLE HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN DRIVEN FOR 30 MINUTES AND THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS NOT ACTIVATED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT STATED THAT THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS ELECTRICAL. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V336000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 120,000. UPDATED 11/26/07

Mileage: 120,000

DRIVEN 96 BRONCO TO STORE, NOTICED "SQUISHY BRAKES ON WAY HOME. PARKED VEHICLE FOR APPROX. 20-30 MIN. WHEN CAME OUTSIDE TO FIND FLAME BALLS OF DRIPPING PLASTIC; OPENED THE HOOD TO FIND MASTER CYLINDER ON FIRE & SPREADING TO AREAS BELOW. UNABLE TO QUICKLY ACCESS FIRE EXTINGUISHER; PULLED A GARDEN HOSE BACK TO VEHICLE & AT THIS TIME ALL AREAS BENEATH MASTER CYLINDER WERE INVOLVED AND SPREADING OVER TO TIRES, WIRING HARNESS & INSULATION DRIPPING ONTO FUEL LINES. REPORTED TO FORD MOTOR CO. IMMEDIATELY AND NOT GETTING ANYWHERE WITH THEM TO ACCEPT LIABILITY FOR THE DAMAGE. CONTINUALLY RECEIVING RECALL NOTICES FROM FORD AS TO WHY THIS REPAIR HAS NOT BEEN DONE... ??? PLEASE HELP!! *TR

Mileage: 224,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD BRONCO. ON JUNE 15, 2005, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SMOKE AND THEN CAUGHT FIRE WHILE PARKED. THE CONTACT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE MANUFACTURER CONFIRMED THAT SAFETY RECALL # 05V388000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). THE MAJORITY OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT SUFFERED FIRE DAMAGE (MASTER CYLINDER, ENGINE WIRING HARNESSES, PLASTIC FENDER, AND THE CHROME PLATING ON THE GRILL PEELED). THE ENGINE SIZE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 225,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 210,000.

Mileage: 210,000

THE FORD BRONCO WAS SITTING IN FRONT OF MY CAR. OVERNIGHT THE CAR CAUGHT FIRE AND BURNED THE FRONT CONSOLE OF THE CAR AND BELOW THE DASHBOARD. THE HOTTEST POINT OF THE FIRE WAS UNDERNEATH THE HOOD WHERE THE METAL TURNED WHITE AND DESTROYED THE PAINT. A CLAIM FILED WITH FORD WAS FILED AFTER THE RECALL FOR THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH WAS ISSUED A FEW WEEKS AFTER THE FIRE. FORD DENIED THE CLAIM BECAUSE THEY COULD NOT LOCATE THE SWITCH, WHICH, ACCORDINGLY TO THE LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP, WAS NOT IN THE ENGINE BLOCK. *NM

Mileage: 140,000

DT: THE CONTACT OWNED A 1996 FORD BRONCO. THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE IN EARLY JUNE 2005. THE FIRE OCCURRED IN THE WIRE CLUSTER THAT CONNECTED INTO THE FRONT OF THE MASTER CYLINDER. THE FIRE WAS FIRST NOTICED COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT OPERATING UNUSUALKY BEFORE THE FIRE STARTED. CONTACT ONLY HAD THE VEHICLE FOR A COUPLE OF MONTHS AND THE CRUISE CONTROL DID NOT WORK. HEARD ABOUT THE CRUISE CONTROL RECALL BUT DID NOT PAY ATTENTION TO IT. THIS WAS AN ELECTRICAL FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY BYPASSING THE CRUISE CONTROL AND WIRING IT. INSURANCE COMPANY PAID FOR THE REPAIRS. *AK

DT: CONSUMER STATED THAT 1996 FORD BRONCO XL CAUGHT ON FIRE AND BURNT ON JUNE 5, 2005. THE FIRE STARTED UNDER THE DRIVERS SIDE LEFT FRONT FENDER WELL RIGHT AT THE MASTER CYLINDER. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN PARKED FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES. THE VEHICLE HAD DRIVEN JUST FINE BEFORE THIS. CONSUMER HAS NOT CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER AT THIS POINT. THERE WAS A FIRE DEPARTMENT AND POLICE DEPORTMENT REPORTS. THERE WAS NO INSURANCE REPORT. DRIVER HAD NOT SMELLED ANY SMOKE OR SEEN ANY SMOKE FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. THERE ARE PICTURES OF THE VEHICLE BEFORE IT WAS MOVED BY THE CONSUMER. THE OWNER GOING TO TAKE MORE PICTURES OF THE VEHICLE FOR ODI.*AK

Mileage: 120,000

FIRE IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT CAUSED BY CRUISE CONTROL BRAKE SWITCH. MY FIRST INDICATION OF A PROBLEM WAS THAT MY CRUISE CONTROL DID NOT WORK. I WENT TO MY GARAGE AND FOUND THAT A FUSE HAD BLOWN. WHEN I REPLACED THE FUSE, THE SWITCH ASSEMBLY, LOCATED DIRECTLY ABOVE THE BRAKE FLUID TANK, IMMEDIATELY IGNIGHTED, WHICH DESTROYED THE SWITCH AND MELTED PART OF THE BRAKE FLUID. WE PUT OUT THE FIRE WITH AN EXTINGUISHER, BOUGHT AND INSTALLED A REPLACEMENT SWITCH, AND IT NOW SEEMS TO BE WORKING OK. I HAD FIGURED IT WAS AN ISOLATED INCIDENT, UNTIL I LEARNED IT HAS HAPPENED TO HUNDREDS OF OTHER PEOPLE AND THAT A "PARTIAL" RECALL HAS BEEN CONDUCTED BY FORD, BUT THE RECALL DID NOT INCLUDE MY VEHICLE. NOW I'M AFRAID I MAY HAVE ANOTHER FIRE. I BECAME AWARE OF THIS BY WATCHING A CNN NEWS STORY ON THE PROBLEM.

WHILE CLEANING MY 96 BRONCO I NOTICED SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE HOOD. AFTER OPENING IT, I SAW THE CRUISE CONTROL BOX TO BE SMOKING HEAVILY. I POURED WATER ON IT AND COOLED DOWN THE SUPERHEATED DEVICE. EXCEPT FOR THE CRUISE CONTROL NOT WORKING, I DID NOT ENCOUNTER ANY OTHER PROBLEMS. LATELY I'VE BEEN READING ABOUT INVESTIGATIONS INTO POTENTIAL SYSTEMATIC DEFECTS OF THE CRUISE CONTROL OF FORD TRUCKS AND EXTENSIVE RECALLS DUE TO THAT PROBLEM. THE SYMPTOMS DESCRIBED ARE MATCHING WHAT HAPPENED TO MY CAR - I SEEM TO JUST HAVE BEEN LUCKY TO BE PRESENT. I REPORTED THE INCIDENT TO MY CAR DEALER AND TO FORD BUT BOTH DENIED A CLAIM BECAUSE THERE WAS NO RECALL ON MY KIND OF VEHICLE. THERE HAVE BEEN RECALLS ON FORD F150 TRUCKS BUT I COULD NOT FIND ANY REGARDING THE BRONCO MODEL WHICH IS SURPRISING SINCE BOTH CARS ARE ESSENTIALLY THE SAME EXCEPT FOR THE FLAT BED.

Mileage: 84,000

CRUISE CONTROL AND BRAKE LIGHTS QUIT WORKING. REPLACED FUSE AND IT BLEW AND STILL NO BRAKE LIGHTS OR CRUISE. THE PROBLEM IS THE BRAKE PRESSURE SWITCH THAT CONTROLS THE CRUISE GOES BAD AND CAUSES FUSE TO BLOW AND CRUISE DOES NOT WORK AND BRAKE LIGHTS WILL NOT WORK. AFTER FINDING THE PROBLEM I REPLACED THE SWITCH WITH A NEW ONE FROM MOSES FORD. WITHIN TWO WEEKS FUSE BLOWN AGAIN AND SWITCH WAS BAD AGAIN. WHEN SWITCH GOES BAD IT ALLOWS BRAKE FLUID THROUGH SWITCH AND ONTO THE WIRING LEACHING UP HARNESS AND TO A LARGER HARNESS AND THE FLUID CAUSED A SHORT WHICH MELTED HARNESS. I FORTUNATELY SAW IT HAD MELTED AND HAVE LEFT HARNESS UNPLUGGED SINCE. NOW BECAUSE OF THE TWO DEFECTIVE SWITCHES IT RUINED CRUISE SERVO AND HARNESS. I WAS TOTALLY UNAWARE OF BRAKE LIGHTS BEING OUT UNTIL MY WIFE FOLLOWED ME HOME ONE NIGHT I THOUGHT IT WAS JUST CRUISE PROBLEM. FAILURE IS NOT CORRECTED AS THE DESIGN OF THE SWITCH IS POOR AND EACH ONE RESULTS IN SAME PROBLEM AND NOW MELTED HARNESS NEEDS REPLACED, WHICH ENTAILS REPLACING THE ENTIRE UNDERHOOD WIRING HARNESS AT A COST OF $400 PLUS LABOR. THERE IS A RECALL PENDING ON F150 FROM 1995-1999 BUT BRONCO IS NOT LISTED WHEN IN FACT THE BRONCO USES THE SAME HARNESS AND SWITCH AS THE F150. SAW THE ARTICLE ONLINE HEREHTTP://ABCNEWS.GO.COM/BUSINESS/WIRESTORY?ID=608161*AK

Mileage: 115,000

WHILE PARKED FOR TWENTY HOURS CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH IGNITIED BY ITSELF. AS A RESULT, VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE OWNER WAS ABLE TO SAVE THE VEHICLE.*AK

Mileage: 102,000

THE TRUCK HAD BEEN PARKED FOR ABOUT 30 MINUTES PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. THE SPEED CONTROL SWITCH ON THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER OVERHEATED AND CHARRED THE AREA. REPLACED SWITCH AND CONTROL MODULE. *AK

Mileage: 70,000

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE WOULD NOT GO FORWARD. CONSUMER STATED TRANSMISSION WENT OUT. DEALER CONTACTED. *AK CRUISE CONTROL AND DOOR LOCKS ARE INOPERATIVE. EMERGENCY BRAKE LIGHT STAYS ILLUMINATED. FRONT END IS OUT OF ALIGNMENT AND PULLS TO THE LEFT. HEAD LIGHTS WILL NOT SHUT OFF. THERMOSTAT, RADIATOR, RADIATOR CAP, AND WATER PUMP WERE REPLACED. THE STRUTS THAT HOLD THE BACK WINDOW AND DOOR DID NOT HOLD, SPRINGS FOR THE BACK DOOR ARE INOPERATIVE. TRANSMISSION NEEDED ADJUSTMENT, BALL IN TRANSMISSION FAILED, VEHICLE WILL NOT SHIFT INTO 4-WHEEL DRIVE, AND UNIVERSAL JOINT WAS REPLACED. DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT INOPERATIVE. ELECTRICAL SWITCH THAT ADJUSTS THE DRIVER SEAT SHORTED OUT AND CAUGHT FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, GROUND CABLE ON THE BATTERY BROKE CAUSING COMPUTER TO BE INOPERATIVE, STARTER SWITCH, SOLENOID, LOCK CYLINDER, CIRCUIT BREAKER, AND TEM SENSOR WERE REPLACED. AIR CONDITIONER FAILED AND VENTS DO NOT WORK. *SLC

THROTTLE GOT STUCK, AND VEHICLE KEPT ACCELERATING. BRAKES FAILED TO SLOW VEHICLE DOWN.

CONSUMER STARTED VEHICLE, PUT GEAR INTO DRIVE AND VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED, CONSUMER STEPPED ON BRAKES HARDER, BREAKING THE BRAKE LINE. DRIVER UNABLE TO CONTROL VEHICLE, RESULTED IN CRASH. *AK