NHTSA studies wiring-1 million Ford vehicles

[A. Mieskolainen]

http://www.autonews.com/html/main/stories/nhtsa312.htm
(edited to excl other than ford"
"March 12, 2001
NHTSA studies wiring in 1 million Ford vehicles
HARRY STOFFER
Automotive News
WASHINGTON - Nearly 1 million Ford Motor Co. cars would be recalled if a
federal investigation finds that instrument panel electrical problems in
Ford Contours and Mercury Mystiques and Cougars are a safety defect.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said it is stepping up
its investigation of the cars to resolve that question. NHTSA upgraded the
case from a preliminary evaluation to the more intense level of engineering
analysis.
The company and the agency together have collected more than 2,100
complaints about overheating or burning of electrical wiring, switches or
resistors connected with the blower for the heater and defroster. The
complaints include 93 reports of fires.
Ford told NHTSA it also has handled nearly 13,000 possibly related warranty
claims.
The affected vehicles are from the 1995 to 1999 model years.
NHTSA officials said they believe the incidents create safety hazards by
rendering defrosters inoperable, distracting drivers and, in extreme cases,
exposing occupants to fumes and fire. They indicated that Ford said motor
vehicle safety is not affected.
Elsewhere in its monthly report of defect investigations, NHTSA said it has
taken action in four cases about malfunctioning brakes in light trucks made
by each of the Big 3.
The agency said it took the following actions in the cases:
It upgraded its investigation of 1999-2000 four-wheel-drive Ford Excursion
sport-utilities and F-250 and F-350 Super Duty pickups because of complaints
that the trucks pull to one side when brakes are applied.
NHTSA and Ford together have collected more than 900 complaints, including
reports of four crashes. Ford said it is aware of more than 4,000 possibly
related warranty claims. About 525,000 vehicles are in service.
It upgraded an investigation of parking brakes on 1999 Ford Super Duty
F-series trucks. The agency and the company together have collected 132
complaints about brakes that don't hold. They include claims of 37 crashes.
Ford reported nearly 1,200 warranty claims. There are 460,000 of the
vehicles on the road.

It opened a preliminary evaluation of vacuum boosters on the brakes of
1997-2000 Chevrolet and GMC light-duty pickups, which include C/K models and
the Silverado and Sierra. The agency has received 18 complaints of boosters
that fail. Those complaints include reports of two crashes with four
injuries. The agency has not estimated the number of affected trucks.
In other developments, NHTSA said it closed three investigations because it
found insufficient evidence that defects exist. The cases had been opened
because of complaints about the following:
Gasoline that spit back during refueling of 1998 Ford Contours and Mercury
Mystiques ..."