1996 FORD F-350 Vehicle Speed Control Problems

ON 1/30/09 I EXPERIENCED A FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT ON MY FORD F-350 DUE TO A FAULTY SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH. I JUST HAPPENED TO WALK OUT TO THE VEHICLE THAT WAS PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY, NOT RUNNING, TO SEE A GLOW UNDERNEATH THE TRUCK. I OPENED THE HOOD AND REALIZED THAT THERE WAS A FIRE COMING FROM THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER. AFTER EXTINGUISHING THE FIRE, AND BURNING MY HANDS, I COULD SEE THAT THE RESERVOIR WAS MELTED AND THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH IS WHERE THE FIRE WAS COMING FROM. *TR

Mileage: 202,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD F350. THE CONTACT WAS DISPLEASED BECAUSE THE PART FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V336000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) WAS UNAVAILABLE. THERE HAD BEEN NO FAILURE TO DATE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 56,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD F-350. WHILE PARKED, THE VEHICLE BURST INTO FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED AND STATED THAT THE FIRE ORIGINATED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. IN JANUARY OF 2006, AFTER THE FIRE OCCURRED, THE CONTACT RECEIVED HER FIRST RECALL NOTICE FOR THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL. THE RECALL NUMBER WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 140,000.

Mileage: 140,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD F-350. HE STATED THAT HE STARTED HIS VEHICLE AND NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. HE ALSO NOTICED FLAMES COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD WHEN HE OPENED IT. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO PUT THE FIRE OUT WITHOUT CONTACTING THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. THERE IS A RECALL FOR THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL (RECALL #06V286000) WHICH STATED THERE COULD BE SMOKE AND FIRE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT HIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED AS PART OF THE RECALL. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 106,000. THE VEHICLE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN.

Mileage: 106,000

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL SENSOR CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THE VIN NUMBER WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE VEHICLE SPEED SENSOR RECALL (06V286000) BECAUSE THE VEHICLE HAD A DIESEL ENGINE. THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE FIVE MINUTES AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND THE SERVICE DEALER DETERMINED THIS WAS THE SAME SYMPTOMS THAT LED TO THE RECALL.

DT: THE CONTACT STATES THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN 05V388000 CONCERNING THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH. THIS VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL, BUT IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN AND MODEL. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. *AK

CRUISE CONTROL RECALL LIST DOES NOT INCLUDE THE FORD F350 TRUCK. MY CRUISE CONTROL QUIT WORKING DURING A ROUTINE SERVICE AT 60,000 MILES. SERVICE PERSONNEL AT BOBBY JONES FORD, AUGUSTA, GEORGIA, HAD APPARENTLY DISCONNECTED THE CRUISE CONTROL BECAUSE OF A FLUID LEAK FROM THE SWITCH. AFTER COMPLAINING, THIS VEHICLE HAD OTHER SWITCH FAILURES (TURN SIGNAL AND IGNITION SWITCHES) THESE SWITCHES WERE REPLACED AT MY EXPENSE, ALSO THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH WAS ALSO REPLACED AT THIS TIME (AT MY EXPENSE OF $20.88 PART AND $40.00 LABOR). THIS VEHICLE SHOULD HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN THE RECALL OF THE OTHER FORD VEHICLES WITH THIS CRUISE CONTROL PROBLEM, RESULTING IN THE POSSIBILITY OF THE VEHICLE CATCHING ON FIRE. *JB

Mileage: 60,000

CRUISE CONTROL FAILED TO ENGAGE WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH. CONSUMER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE WIRING CONNECTED TO THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH WAS BURNT. CONSUMER WENT TO THE DEALER AND PURCHASED A SWITCH AND INSTALLED IT HIMSELF. CONSUMER EXPRESSED CONCERN THAT THIS COULD CAUSE THE CRUISE CONTROL TO FAIL DISENGAGING INSTEAD OF ENGAGING. *AK

Mileage: 110,000

VEHICLE WAS PARKED FOR A FEW MINUTES WHEN ALL OF SUDDEN THE OWNER NOTICED THAT THERE WAS SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE HOOD. HE THEN APPROACHED THE VEHICLE AND PUT THE FIRE OUT BEFORE IT BECAME WORSE. RESULTS INDICATED THAT THERE WAS A SHORT WITHIN THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH.*AK

CRUISE CONTROL FAILED TO WORK WHEN TRYING TO SET THE SPEED. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM.*AK

Mileage: 107,000

WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS PARKING THE VEHICLE, IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. UPON INSPECTION, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS THE CAUSE. *JB

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD NUMEROUS TIMES, AND THEN A FIRE STARTED ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ENGINE. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE DETAILS. *AK