question about a dealer recall.. a little too late

[V]

ok, as some of you know, i have a 1995 Ford bronco (full-size eddie bauer blah blah blah) well anyways, yesterday i get a letter from "ford" which stated that according to the VIN of my vehicle, it has not had a "no-charge recall completed". The recall is for the "speed control deactivation switch" aka the switch that shuts off the cruise control when you hit the brake. I searched the web for more info on the recall and what happens with a bad switch... turns out, a faulty switch can corrode and cause the wiring to ignite along with igniting the brake fluid and burn up the whole vehicle... how ironic.. my bronco suffered a major fire started by the drivers front wheel/brake master cylinder, right around where the switch would be located. Apparrently this has happened to a lot of ford f series vehicles from 92-up, thats the reason for the recall.

But what about me? will they do anything for me since its too late? do i need to take legal action or will they be more helpful right off the bat since they admit there is a known problem. Ive started rebuilding and im about 1/2 way through, but you can clearly tell there was a fire by interior smoke damage and some burnt suspension parts still on the truck. I also have some pictures of the burnt motor and firewall, in and out.

What are you opinions on what action i should take. I'm probably gonna call the number given in the letter and first ask what could happen if the recall isnt done, like what is the risk, if they fire, then i'll act shocked and explain mine recently burnt up, and i'll go from there i guess.

[oh one ls1 SS]

is this your first notification about the recall?

[gotmilf]

If you know or have an attorney, I would consult him. You may have legal recourse, or you may not. Remember the Pinto?

[V]

is this your first notification about the recall?
yes

[V]

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d50/SmokingSS/fordrecall2.jpg

[12secondv6]

Did you take pictures?

Have you saved reciepts from everything you have purchased to fix the vehicle?

Did you have a police report/ file insurance claim when this occured?

I would contact the supplied phone # right away!

[69RSZ]

I think someone has a class action lawsuit going,this problem was blasted all over CNN months ago and some people lost everything because they parked their trucks in the attached garage and the whole house burnt down.One guy lost his wife in the fire I think.I would consult with your insurance co and if they dont do anything Im not sure you can prove it was that switch.Fords way out of this was that noone could prove it was the switch.

[BigAls87Z28]

You know, Ford has this thing with thier vehicles just going up in flames? I remember my 95 Ford Taurus was recalled because of the heater motor bearings were packed too tight, and could start a fire. Its always about a fire with Ford. Never something like "child seat belt page missing from owners manual".

[79CamaroDiva]

You know, Ford has this thing with thier vehicles just going up in flames? I remember my 95 Ford Taurus was recalled because of the heater motor bearings were packed too tight, and could start a fire. Its always about a fire with Ford. Never something like "child seat belt page missing from owners manual".

someone had a recall for a missing page?

[bad64chevelle]

ya want to know something. My GFs dad had an early 90s bronco. He is extremely meticulous and the Bronco was absolutely beautiful, I mean showroom mint! My buddy was looking for a truck at the time and was going through getting the loan done and was going to buy it off of him for an really good price. Well my GFs brother drove it in the meantime because he was in an accident in his mustang and it was getting fixed. He drove it to TCNJ and back from Bordentown its a decent ride and when he got home he said it was acting weird (not knowing much about cars) and about 20 mins later I get a call from my GF saying that the thing caught on fire. It burnt to the ground right there in the street. By the time i got there (about three mins after the phone call) the thing was trashed when they towed it up on the flatbed the entire front end collapsed and the engine fell out with the trans. My buddy was about 24 hours from buying the thing. what happened was the switch as you said ignited the brake lines and the trans lines and the whole thing burnt down. It is such a shame too! Insurance company screwed them over on it too. And as to saying fords catch on fire its the truth. One time (of the many) that the camaro was down I was driving my grandmothers 99 taurus. I had to take my sister to some class and the whole time driving down 295 i smelled smoke and by the time i stopped i saw it under the hood. I open it up and there were some flames. I put them out with my jacket but damn wtf is it with those cars?

[V]

actually Ford has admitted it is a bad switch and that the switch can cause a fire, even if the vehicle has been parked for several days. The problem is with the switch itself, where as gm uses a vacuum switch to turn off the cruise control, ford explained that they use a pressure switch in the brake line itself to turn it off. Texas instruments made the switch and replied basically with that the problem is that the switch is always powered and the brake fluid gets into the switch and corrodes it, resulting in it shorting out and heating up, then that ignites the brake fluid. And the truck is usually gone within 10-15 minutes.

I have pictures, i have all reciepts, and the truck interior is still smoke/heat damaged as it was. For all intents and purposes it happened in my driveway and since i didnt have full insurance coverage, just basic liability, i didnt file a police report.

There are hundreds, maybe thousands, of reports of the 90's-02's having this problem, at least 3 i found today were in garages and people were killed when the house went up in flames.

[bad64chevelle]

Texas instruments made the switch and replied basically with that the problem is that the switch is always powered and the brake fluid gets into the switch and corrodes it, resulting in it shorting out and heating up, then that ignites the brake fluid. And the truck is usually gone within 10-15 minutes.

Yeah thats what happens. Saw it happpen first hand unfortunately...

[79CamaroDiva]

they were in the garage when they caught fire? is this like a spontaneous combustion type thing??

[Tru2Chevy]

they were in the garage when they caught fire? is this like a spontaneous combustion type thing??

Read this:

actually Ford has admitted it is a bad switch and that the switch can cause a fire, even if the vehicle has been parked for several days. The problem is with the switch itself, where as gm uses a vacuum switch to turn off the cruise control, ford explained that they use a pressure switch in the brake line itself to turn it off. Texas instruments made the switch and replied basically with that the problem is that the switch is always powered and the brake fluid gets into the switch and corrodes it, resulting in it shorting out and heating up, then that ignites the brake fluid. And the truck is usually gone within 10-15 minutes.

- Justin

[camaro2you]

damn fords.... ya i would definatly call up the place.