NHTSA Complaint #731696 — 1994 FORD EXPLORER

IF FOR ANY REASON THE BRAKE LIGHT FUSE SHOULD BLOW, THE CRUISE CONTROL ON THIS VEHICLE WILL NOT DISENGAGE WHEN STEPPING ON THE BRAKE. THERE IS NO WARNING FOR THIS BY THE WAY. THIS COULD CAUSE A FATAL INJURY AS THE CRUISE CONTROL WILL MAKE THE CAR LUNGE FORWARD TRYING TO GET BACK TO THE CRUISE SPEED SETTING. YOU ALSO WILL LOOSE YOUR POWER BRAKES. I HAVE CONTACTED FORD AND THEIR ANSWER WAS TO GO BACK TO THE DEALER WHEN YOU HAVE A TECHNICAL ISSUE. I HAVE DONE THAT AND THE DEALER'S ANSWER WAS THAT THIS IS NORMAL FOR THIS VEHICLE. I WAS TOLD THAT IT IS THE WAY IT IS WIRED. THIS APPEARS TO BE A PROBLEM ON THE 1994 EXPLORER. I DON'T KNOW IF IT IS LIKE THAT ON ANY OTHER MODEL OR YEAR FORD. IN MY OPINION IT SHOULD NOT MATTER WHAT THE CONDITION OF THE FUSE PANEL IS. IF THE DRIVER WANTS THE CRUISE CONTROL TO DISENGAGE, THEN IT SHOULD DISENGAGE NO MATTER WHAT. IF YOU WANT TO SEE THIS FOR YOURSELF, OBTAIN A 1994 EXPLORER AND PULL THE BRAKE LIGHT FUSE OUT OF IT'S SOCKET. IT IS LOCATED UNDER THE DASH TO THE LEFT OF THE STEERING WHEEL ON THE FUSE PANEL. NOW TAKE THE VEHICLE FOR A RIDE. WHEN YOU GET OVER 30 MPH ENGAGE THE CRUISE CONTOL. NOW TAP THE BRAKE AND SEE IF IT DISENGAGES. IT WILL NOT. IN FACT IF YOU FIGHT IT THE POWER BRAKES WILL GO AWAY. SCAREY UH? WHEN YOU TRY THIS, THEN YOU WILL KNOW WHAT TO DO.