NHTSA Complaint #10108216 — 1994 FORD F-150

BRAKE LIGHT FUSE FAILURE. TROUBLE SHOOTING FOUND A SHORT AT THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH ON TOP OF THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER. THIS SHORT WAS CAUSED BY THE SWITCH LEAKING BRAKE FLUID THRU IT TO THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR ABOVE AND WAS STILL COOKING LONG AFTER THE ENGINE WAS SHUT OFF. I REPLACED THE SWITCH AND FIXED THE PROBLEM. WHEN I COMPLAINED TO THE PARTS MGR @ TEXAS MOTORS DEALERSHIP IN FT WTH, TX ABOUT THE DANGER OF THIS DISCOVERY HE LAUGHED AND REPLIED "WE SELL LOTS OF THOSE SWITCHES". THAT WAS NOVEMBER OF 2004. THE TRUCK IS A 1994 F150. THEIR FIX FOR THIS PROBLEM NOW IS TO SIMPLY BYPASS THIS SAFETY SWITCH WITH A JUMPER WIRE INLIEU OF REPLACING A POORELY DESIGNED PART WITH A BETTER DESIGHED PART AND LOOK THE OTHER WAY ON SAFETY. IS THIS WHAT WE CAN EXPECT IN THE FUTURE FROM FORD? SHOULD I SELL MY NEW SPORT TRACK BEFORE IT BURNES DOWN AND BUY ONE FROM ANOTHER MFG? I HOPE FORD WILL TREAT THIS PROBLEM BETTER THAN THEY DID THE FUEL TANKS ON THE PINTO AND CROWN VICTIRIA. I HOPE THIS IS NOT WHAT THE AMERICAN WAY HAS COME TO. THANKS. *AK