NHTSA Complaint #10118402 — 1996 FORD F-150

I HAVE A 1996 FORD F-150 PICKUP TRUCK. THE TRUCK CAUGHT ON FIRE ON APRIL 20, 2005, AT A FORD REPAIR FACILITY, WHILE IT WAS THERE FOR REPAIR. THE FIRE INITIATED AT THE CRUISE CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH, WHICH IS LOCATED ON THE MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER. ITEMS AFFECTED BY THE FIRE INCLUDED THE CRUISE CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH, THE MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER AND POWER BRAKE DIAPHRAGM, MELTED COVERS, HOSES AND WIRING, AND BURNED AND SCORCHED THE HOOD, PEALING A LARGE SPOT OF THE PAINT. THE TRUCK HAS JUST 77,986 MILES. PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE DAMAGE ARE AVAILABLE ON REQUEST. EVEN THOUGH THIS SWITCH IS THE SAME PART, IDENTIFIED WITH THE SAME PART NUMBER BY FORD, AND THE SAME DESIGN AS THAT CURRENTLY UNDER RECALL IN MODEL YEARS 2000 ? 2001, FORD HAS REFUSED TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS. I LEARNED ABOUT THIS DECISION FROM A CONVERSATION I HAD WITH THE SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE. THE ESTIMATED COST FOR THE REPAIRS, USING SOME USED COMPONENTS, IS ABOUT $1,000. WHEN I CALLED THE PARTS DEPARTMENT AT THE DEALERSHIP, I WAS INFORMED THAT THE CURRENT SWITCH IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE. IT WOULD BE REPLACED WITH A NEW DESIGN, THE SAME AS ON THE RECALL FOR THE 2000 ? 2001 MODELS. THE NEW PART INCLUDES A SWITCH (TRANSDUCER), AS WELL AS A JUMPER CABLE CONTAINING A NEW DIODE AND PLUG. THE NEW PART SELLS FOR $24.29. IT IS FORTUNATE THAT THIS FIRE OCCURRED WHILE THE UNIT WAS PARKED OUTSIDE OF THE REPAIR FACILITY. IT WOULD HAVE BEEN MUCH MORE SERIOUS IF IT WERE INSIDE THE BUILDING, EXPOSING THE MECHANICS TO SMOKE AND FIRE. THIS TRUCK IS DRIVEN BY MY 18 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER TO AND FROM SCHOOL AND AROUND TOWN. I HAD THE TRUCK IN FOR REPAIRS TO BE ASSURED THAT WHEN SHE STARTED COLLEGE NEXT FALL THE UNIT WOULD BE RELIABLE FOR HER. HAD THIS SWITCH CAUSED A FIRE WHILE SHE WAS DRIVING WE COULD HAVE LOST HER. THAT IS JUST NOT ACCEPTABLE! THE RECALL SHOULD BE EXPANDED TO INCLUDE ALL OF THE UNITS THAT HAVE THIS CRUISE CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH. TOO MANY PEOPLE ARE AT RISK.*AK