NHTSA Complaint #10132548 — 2002 FORD EXCURSION

THE ELECTRONIC CONTROLLER FOR THE OVER DRIVE LOCK SWITCH IS SHORTING OUT IN MY 2002 FORD EXCURSION. I EXPERIENCED A PROBLEM WITH THE GAUGES TURNING OFF WHILE I WAS DRIVING AROUND ATLANTA, GA WITH MY FAMILY. THE BATTERY WENT DEAD BECAUSE THE FUSE THAT CONTROLS THE DASH GAUGES BLEW. THE ALTERNATOR QUIT CHARGING THE BATTERY, AND THE GAUGES QUIT WORKING. I DID NOT NOTICE THIS PROBLEM UNTIL I WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT AND THE ENGINE DIED. I RESTARTED THE CAR, PUT IT IN DRIVE AND WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN THE ENGINE BEGAN TO STALL AND THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT. TAKE OFF WAS VERY SLUGGISH. THE ENGINE RAN FOR ABOUT 300 FEET AND DIED AGAIN SO I PULLED INTO A CONVENIENCE STORE PARKING LOT. I DETERMINED THE BATTERY WENT DEAD AND BOUGHT ANOTHER ONE TO GET ME HOME. MY WIFE TOOK THE CAR TO A SERVICE CENTER AND THEY FOUND THE BAD FUSE FOR THE DASH GAUGES. THIS WAS ABOUT 3 MONTHS AGO. THE CAR HAS BLOWN SEVERAL FUSES SINCE. TODAY THE CAR'S GAUGES WOULD WORK INTERMITTENTLY. WHILE DRIVING THE CAR THE GAUGES WOULD GO ONE AND OFF WHEN I TRIED TO SET THE CRUISE CONTROL OR MOVE THE GEAR SHIFTER. WHEN I GOT HOME THIS EVENING I DISASSEMBLED THE PLASTIC COVERS FOR THE STEERING COLUMN. I FOUND THAT THE WIRE FOR THE OVER DRIVE LOCK OUT SWITCH HAS INSULATION THAT HAS RUBBED OFF LEAVING A HOLE. THE EXPOSED WIRING IS GROUNDING OUT ONTO THE SHAFT OF THE GEAR SHIFT THAT PARALLELS THE STEERING COLUMN. PLEASE INFORM FORD OF THE POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD, AND LET THEM KNOW THAT THEY HAVE TO FIND A BETTER WAY OF ROUTING WIRE AROUND MOVING METAL SURFACES TO PREVENT SHORTING OUT THE WIRING. *NM