Lincoln Town Car Cruise Control Switch Fires

The Ford Speed Control Deactivation Switch, also known as a "brake pressure switch," costs about $21. The switch shuts off the cruise control when the driver firmly steps on the brakes. The switch is located under the hood of the vehicle and is attached to the brake master cylinder on one end and wired to the cruise control on the other. This position places it above flammable reservoirs of brake fluid.

On most of its models, Ford designed the switch to be powered -- or "hot" -- at all times, even when the vehicle is off and the key is removed from the ignition.

Inside the switch, a thin film barrier separates brake fluid from the switch's electrical components.

Investigators say fires can break out under certain conditions, such as when the film cracks and brake fluid from the master cylinder seeps into the electrical side of the switch. This can cause a fire, even when the engine had been turned off and, in some cases, idle for days.

The following signs could indicate that you have a problem with your cruise-control switch: cruise control is not working properly; brake fluid is leaking around the switch; fuses are blown near the switch; or the fuse for the speed control cannot be opened.

What To Do If Your Vehicle Has Caught Fire

If you experienced a vehicle fire, you should contact your insurance company and preserve the physical evidence needed to establish your claim. You should also report your vehicle fire to the United States National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), so that NHTSA receives notice of the incident.

To report a fire incident with any vehicle, visit the website at http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/ or http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/ivoq/ or call 1-888-DASH-2-DOT.

By U.S. mail, contact the NHTSA at:

U.S. Department of Transportation
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
Office of Defects Investigation
NSA-10.01, 400 7th Street, SW
Washington, DC 20590
  

Vehicle owners who wish to obtain more information about the recall should contact Ford at 1-800-392-3673.

Ford Fire Recall Lawsuit

With co-counsel, Lieff Cabraser is representing owners of Ford trucks and other vehicles in lawsuits against Ford for the damages they suffered allegedly due to a defect in the cruise-control switch which caused the vehicle to catch on fire.

Lieff Cabraser is representing the family of a 4-year-old girl killed in a fire on January 1, 2004, allegedly caused by the switch defect in the family's 2001 Ford F-150. The girl, Blake Washington, was asleep in her bed when the fire broke out. The Washington family filed a wrongful death suit in Georgia State Court on July 15, 2005.

In June 2005, a lawsuit was filed in Iowa by the family of Darletta Mohlis, who died from injuries from a fire in her home May 2, claiming her death was the result of the failure of a cruise control deactivation switch inside her 1996 F-150 truck that was made by Texas Instruments.

Vehicle Fire Attorneys/Lawyers

Owners of the Ford vehicles who lost their vehicle due to fire and also suffered other significant property damage (such as the loss of their house) or were personally injured, are welcome to contact an attorney at Lieff Cabraser experienced in handling fire recall claims against Ford. There is no charge or obligation for our review of your case.

You may also contact us by telephone toll free at 1-866-313-1973 and request to speak to Ford fire recall attorney Mark Chalos. We will also investigate vehicles made by other manufacturers that caught fire and led to an injury or significant property damage.

At this time we are only accepting cases involving vehicles that caught fire and in addition to the vehicle being destroyed, other significant property damage occurred or persons were injured. Owners who wish to obtain more information about the Ford fire recall should contact Ford at 1-800-392-3673 or NHTSA's auto safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236.