1996 FORD F-250 Vehicle Speed Control Problems

Cruise control switch began smoking, disconnected it and took it to Awesome Ford of Chehalis, WA for recall service sometime in June or July. Service tech found that brake fluid had wicked its way up electrical harness into cruise control servo, necessitating replacement in order to complete recall service. FoMoCo has been unable/unwilling to replace cruise control servo and is instead requiring that I pull one from a wrecking yard in order to complete recall service.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD F-250. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE WAS REPLACING THE GLOW PLUGS WHEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 06V286000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). THE CONTACT LATER RECEIVED A CALL FROM THE MANUFACTURER'S LEGAL TEAM, WHO ADVISED THAT THE FIRE WAS NOT RELATED TO THE RECALL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER NEVER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE TO MAKE THAT DETERMINATION. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.

Mileage: 200,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD F-250. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SITTING IN A RESIDENTIAL DRIVE WAY WHEN IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE AND DETERMINED THAT THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH WAS THE CULPRIT. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH THE MANUFACTURER IN REGARD TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 06V286000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL), BUT WAS TOLD THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 150,000. *TR

Mileage: 150,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD F-250 DIESEL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING, AN ODOR OF BURNING PLASTIC BURNING WAS EMITTED INTO THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL BURNED A HOLE IN THE BRAKE FLUID RESERVOIR. AS A RESULT, THE CRUISE CONTROL LINES AND THE BRAKE FLUID NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. IN ADDITION, THE BRAKES WERE NOT RESPONDING PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE BOOSTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 183,628 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 186,000.

Mileage: 183,628

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD F-250. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED NEXT TO THE GARAGE THE VEHICLE IGNITED INTO FLAMES. THE VEHICLE BURNED DOWN THE ENTIRE GARAGE AND DID PARTIAL FIRE DAMAGE TO THE HOUSE. THE CONTACT HAS NOT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER REGARDING THE FIRE. THE CONTACT NOTICE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS REGARDING FIRES FOR THIS YEAR MAKE AND MODEL. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE REPAIRED UNDER A MANUFACTURERS RECALL YEARS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE FOR THE CRUISE CONTROL WHERE THE DEALER REPLACED A WIRING HARNESS THAT COULD CAUSE A FIRE. THE CONTACT STATED SOMEONE COULD HAVE LOST THEIR LIFE DUE TO THE FIRE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 158,000.

Mileage: 158,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD F-250. THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY. A NEIGHBOR INFORMED THE CONTACT OF THE VEHICLE FIRE AND CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. THE FIRE DESTROYED THE VEHICLE, AND WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN THE SIDE PANELS FOR THE TRUCK BED. THE MANUFACTURERWAS CURRENTY INVESTIGATING THE VEHICLE FIRE. HOWEVER, THE CONTACT HAD NO INFORMATION ON THE STATUS OF THE INVESTIGATION. THE CONTACT COULD PROVIDE PICTURES OF THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000. *AK

Mileage: 30,000

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS APPROACHED AFTER BEING PARKED FOR 2 HOURS, THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE BAY. WHEN THE HOOD WAS OPENED, FIRE WAS SEEN IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. AFTER THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED, THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE SERVICE DEALER. THE DAMAGE CAUSED BY THE FIRE WAS BEYOND THE RECALL REPLACEMENT REQUIREMENT (FORD RECALL # 05S28 OR NHTSA # 05V388000 OR 06V286000). THE MANUFACTURER OFFERED THE CONTACT $5,000.00 FOR THE DAMAGED VEHICLE.

Mileage: 170,000

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY FOR 45 MINUTES, FLAMES ERUPTED FROM THE ENTIRE FRONT BUMPER AREA. THE VEHICLE CAB AND ENGINE COMPARTMENT QUICKLY BECAME ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE POLICE WERE ON THE SCENE AND A REPORT WAS TAKEN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED DUE TO THE EXTENSIVE FIRE DAMAGE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL # 05V388000 REGARDING THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THE RECALL WAS LIMITED TO TRUCKS UNDER 8500 GROSS VEHICLE WEIGHT , HOWEVER ACCORDING TO A LETTER THAT WAS RECEIVED NO THERE WAS NO GVW LIMITATION. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THAT THE SERVICE BODY INCREASED THE GVW WHICH ELIMINATED THE VEHICLE FROM BEING INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. UPDATED 08/29/06. *JB

Mileage: 100,000

FORD F250 4X4 CAUGHT OF FIRE AT THE SPEED CONTROL SWITCH. FORD SAYS NO RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE. FORD SAYS PUT OLD PART BACK ON. THAT IT WAS VERY RARE THAT IT HAPPENED. *JB

I HAD RAISED MY HOOD TO CHECK THE OIL, AND THERE WAS SMOKE FROM THE CRUISE CONTROL SHUT OFF SWITCH LOCATED AT THE END OF THE MASTER CYLINDER. IT CONTINUED TO SMOKE AND BURN UNTIL I UNPLUGGED IT. IT WAS NEARLY ON FIRE. THE BODY OF THE SWITCH IS MELTED AND BURNED. WHEN I WENT TO FORD DEALER ON 4/17/06 FOR A REPLACEMENT PART, THE PARTS MANAGER THOUGHT THAT THIS MIGHT BE PART OF THE RECALL THAT IS IN FORCE FOR THE F-150. THE SERVICE MANAGER CHECKED, AND IT DOES NOT APPLY TO THE F-250. THIS IS DISTURBING TO ME, BECAUSE THE SWITCH IS THAT SAME FOR EITHER VEHICLE. *NM

Mileage: 200,050

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED ONE YEAR AGO THE CRUISE CONTROL STOPPED WORKING. THERE WAS A BURNING SMELL WHEN THIS HAPPENED, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SEEN BY A MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP FOR REGULAR MAINTENANCE. THE CONTACT WAS ALERTED THAT THERE IS A RECALL FOR THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, #05V388000. THE VEHICLE DID NOT HAVE THE FAILURE ASSOCIATED WITH THE RECALL AND IS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO THE VIN. UPDATED 2/27/2006 - *NM

Mileage: 208,000

DT: THE CONTACT STATES THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN 05V388000 CONCERNING THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL. THIS VEHICLE MANIFESTS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL, BUT IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. THE CONTACT REPAIRED THE VEHICLE AT HIS OWN EXPENSE.*AK

Mileage: 102,000

DT: CONSUMER REPORTED FORD F250 SUPER DUTY 1996 CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRE TOOK PLACE OUTSIDE THE HOUSE WITH THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION. FIRE ORIGINATED FROM THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH UNDER THE HOOD. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT DID INVESTIGATED AND DETERMINED THAT CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH CAUSED THE FIRE. *AK

Mileage: 180,000

AFTER DRIVING THE VEHICLE CONSUMER WENT HOME, PARKED THE VEHICLE FOR A COUPLE OF HOURS. AFTER RETURNING TO THE VEHICLE,HE SMELLED SMOKE, LIFTED THE HOOD, AND DISCOVERED THAT CRUISE CONTROL WAS SMOKING. HE DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY, AND THE SMOKING CEASED. THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS LATER REPLACED. *AK

Mileage: 110,000

WHILE DRIVING WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED VEHICLE WILL COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN. THERE IS NO WARNING. CONTACTED THE DEALER. WAS TOLD THAT THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. *AK

INSTRUMENT PANEL WIRING FAILURE CAUSING ABS LIGHT TO COME ON AND CRUISE CONTROL TO MALFUNCTION, CRUISE CONTROL CONTINUES TO MALFUNCTION AFTER REPAIR ATTEMPT. MJS