NHTSA Complaint #10214425 — 2000 FORD UTILITY VAN XH

VEHICLE FORD WINDSTAR: WAS ON INTERSTATE WHEN SUDDENLY LOST HEAT/AC, CRUISE CONTROL, SPEEDOMETER, AND ONBOARD MONITORING COMPUTER. WAS ON WEEKEND IN THE AFTERNOON STOPPED AT AUTO PARTS STORE FOR ELECTRICAL CHECK DETERMINED BLOWN FUSE. REPLACED FUSE AND SMOKE ROLLED OUT OF ENGINE COMPARTMENT WHEN TRIED TO START VAN. CUT OFF SWITCH AND TRACED PROBLEM TO FRONT OF MASTER CYLINDER SWITCH (SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH). WE DISCONNECTED THE WIRING FROM THE SWITCH AND WAS ABLE TO RESTORE ALL INSTRUMENTS AND CONTROLS EXCEPT THE CRUISE CONTROL. STARTED RESEARCHING AND FOUND ABOUT THE MASSIVE PROBLEM FORD WAS HAVING WITH SIMILAR SITUATIONS. CONTACTED DEALER (MTN. VIEW FORD) AND THEY OFFERED TO LOOK AT THE PROBLEM STATING THE COST AT APPROX. $300.00. I THEN CONTACTED THE 800 NUMBER FOR FORD AND TALKED WITH THEM ABOUT THE PROBLEM I WAS TOLD BY FORDS CONSUMER AFFAIRS NOT TO DRIVE VEHICLE UNTIL THEY GOT BACK WITH ME 7-10 DAYS. LUCKILY IT WAS AROUND THE HOLIDAYS SO I WAS ABLE TO DO SO. WHEN I GOT THE LETTER FROM THEM IT STATED "OUR REVIEW INDICATES THAT THERE ARE NO RECALLS OR OWNER NOTIFICATION PROGRAMS PERTAINING TO THE FIRE ON YOUR VEHICLE AND UNFORTUNATELY WE ARE UNABLE TO OFFER ASSISTANCE BEYOND THE WARRANTY PERIOD". THE SWITCH IN QUESTION IS A DEALER ITEM AND I HAVE BEEN TOLD THEY HAVEN'T DEVELOPED A REPLACEMENT YET THEY ARE ON ORDER. I HAVE BEEN FORCED TO START DRIVING MY VAN AGAIN AND HOPE TO GOD NOTHING OCCURS. IT HAS GOTTEN TO THE POINT WERE I HAVE TO CARRY BRAKE FLUID WITH ME EVERYWHERE I GO DUE TO THE FLUID THIS SWITCH IS ALLOWING TO LEAK OUT. *TR