NHTSA Complaint #10242764 — 2004 FORD RANGER

I HAVE A 2004 FORD RANGER P/U THAT HAS A PROBLEM WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL. FROM TIME TO TIME (AND GETTING MORE FREQUENT)THE CRUISE WILL NOT WORK AND WHEN THIS HAPPENS ALSO THE HORN IS INOPERABLE. I KNOW THAT FORD HAS A RECALL FOR CERTAIN VEHICLES WITH CRUISE PROBLEMS , BUT MY TRUCK VIN DOES NOT FALL UNDER THOSE BEING RECALLED. I CONTACTED FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE ,THEY INFORMED ME TO TAKE IT TO A DEALER AS IT WASN'T COVERED.I CALLED A LOCAL DEALER SERVICE AND THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID TO ME OH YEAH WE GET THAT PROBLEM AND 9 OUT OF 10 TIMES IT'S A SPRING IN THE STEERING COLUMN THAT WRAPS THE WIRES AND ALONG WITH NO CRUISE OR HORN YOU ALSO LOSE YOUR DRIVER AIR BAG PROTECTION!!!NOW THIS IS A REAL PROBLEM,AS HOW MANY PEOPLE DO YOU KNOW TEST THEIR HORN BEFORE DRIVING OUT THE DRIVE AND FOR THAT MATTER REALLY HOW MANY PEOPLE EVEN USE CRUISE CONTROL ON A REGULAR BASIS? I KNOW IN MY CASE THAT IF IT DOES GO IN CRUISE AND I AM GOING DOWN THE NYS THRUWAY AND HAVE TO TAP MY BRAKE FOR SLOW TRAFFIC AND THEN TAP RESUME AFTER TRAFFIC CLEARS AND CRUISE DOES NOT FUNCTION THAT TELLS ME MY HORN ISN'T GOING TO WORK AND MY LIFE COULD BE IN DANGER IF I WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE MY AIR BAG IS ALSO INOPERABLE. *TR