1995 FORD F-53 Recalls, Complaints & Safety

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL

FORD IS RECALLING 225,000 MY 1992-2003 ECONOLINE, MY 1993-1995 TAURUS SHO, MY 1992-1998 CROWN VICTORIA, MY 1993 BRONCO, F-SERIES, MY 1995-1997 F-SERIES SUPER DUTY STRIPPED CHASSIS, MY 1992-1998 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS, AND MY 1992-1995 LINCOLN TOWN CAR VEHICLES. THE AFFECTED VEHICLES WERE PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED USING A WIRING HARNESS THAT IS NOT COMPATIBLE WITH THE VEHICLE CIRCUIT POLARITY.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW WIRING HARNESS, OR REPLACE THE MATING ELECTRICAL COMPONENT. THE RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 18, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.

225,000 vehicles affected

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS, PASSENGER VEHICLES, SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, AND MOTOR HOMES CHASSIS, THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH MAY, UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, LEAK INTERNALLY AND THEN OVERHEAT, SMOKE, OR BURN.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A FUSED WIRING HARNESS. OWNERS OF THE PASSENGER CARS INCLUDED IN THIS CAMPAIGN WILL BE INSTRUCTED TO RETURN THEIR VEHICLES TO THEIR DEALERS TO HAVE THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH DISCONNECTED AS AN INTERIM REPAIR. AS SOON AS REPAIR PARTS ARE AVAILABLE (EXPECTED OCTOBER 2007), OWNERS WILL BE INSTRUCTED TO RETURN TO THE DEALERS FOR INSTALLATION OF A FUSED WIRING HARNESS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 13, 2007, AND MAILING COMPLETED BY SEPTEMBER 19, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-888-222-2751.

3,600,000 vehicles affected

VERMILLION FORD, VERMILLION SD REFUSED TO CORRECT DEFECT DESCRIBED UNDER TSB 2-11-03 WHICH CONCERNS FAILURE OF SPEEDOMETER, ABS, AND TRANSMISSION SHIFT OPERATION. THEY STATED THAT THEY ARE "TOO BUSY" TO PERFORM REQUIRED REPAIRS. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

RECALL APPLICATION FAILURE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 FORD F530 (N/A). HE RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID # 07V336000) IN SEPTEMBER OF 2007. AS OF JANUARY 3, 2008, THE DEALER HAD NOT DEACTIVATED THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL NOR REPAIRED IT. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE PARTS WOULD BE AVAILABLE IN FEBRUARY OF 2008. THE CONTACT FELT THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE AND A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 54,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 56,000. UPDATED 3/5/08 *CN

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 FORD F53. WHILE IDLING IN TRAFFIC, THE BRAKE PEDAL EXTENDED TO THE FLOOR WHEN IT WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER AND THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THAT THE BRAKE FLUID WAS OVERHEATING; HOWEVER, AFTER THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF FOR SEVERAL HOURS, THE BRAKES FUNCTIONED PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED BY THE DEALER AND NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 93V146000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS) WAS REFERENCED FOR THE 1993 F53. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 38,000.

FIVE NUTS/BOLTS THAT SECURE THE REAR AXE TUBE HOUSING TO THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL HOUSING LOOSENED, ONE BOLT COMPLETELY SEPARATED. CONSUMER FEELS NUTS WERE NOT TORQUED TO SPECIFICATIONS, CAUSING NO BOLT STRETCH TO KEEP THE BOLTS TIGHT.

IN-TANK FUEL PUMP FAILED AT ELEVATED TEMPERATURES, STRANDING US BESIDE THE ROAD FOR MANY HOURS IN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS LOCATION. WAS NOT DIAGNOSED ON FIRST FAILURE. WHEN COOL, WORKED AGAIN, AND WE WENT ON. FAILED AGAIN ON NEXT DAY. DEALER WHO REPAIRED STATED 42ND PUMP REPLACE SO FAR THIS YEAR. IF ONE DEALER REPLACED THIS MANY, PROBLEM MUST BE ENORMOUS NATIONWIDE.I BELIEVE THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD BECAUSE IT CAN STRAND YOU IN DANGEROUS LOCATIONS. WE WERE TOWED THE FIRST TIME, BUT THE PROBLEM HAD GONE AWAY BY THE TIME WE WERE DROPPED OFF. THE SECOND TIME, THE DEALER ADVISED US TO LET IT COOL DOWN AND DRIVE IN. THE DEALER HAD REPLACED SO MANY HE KNEW JUST WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS.COST OF REPAIRS WAS $658.59. I BELIEVE FORD SHOULD RE-IMBURSE FOR REPAIRS CONSIDERING LARGE NUMBER OF FAILURES, AND THE SAFETY ISSUE!