1998 Ford Expedition VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THERE IS CURRENTLY NOT A PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE. HOWEVER, THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL, #05V388000 ON THE VEHICLE REGARDING THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL CRUISE CONTROL. THE PARTS NEEDED TO REPAIR THEIR VEHICLE ARE NOT AVAILABLE AT THEIR LOCAL DEALERSHIP. THE MANUFACTURER CONFIRMED THE PARTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED.

I BACKED OUT OF A PARKING SPACE AND HAD MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AS I SHIFTED OUT OF REVERSE AND INTO NEUTRAL. AS SOON AS I SHIFTED INTO DRIVE THE ENGINE ACCELERATED WITH GREAT FORCE. I KEPT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AND SHIFTED BACK INTO NEUTRAL AND TURNED OF THE IGNITION STOPPING THE VEHICLE AND AVOIDING AN ACCIDENT. I MEASURED THE RESULTING TIRE SKID MARK FROM THE LEFT REAR TIRE AND IT WAS ABOUT 9 FEET LONG. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE FORD DEALER ON JANUARY 23, 2006 FOR A DIAGNOSTIC CHECKUP. THEY KEPT IT OVERNIGHT AND TRIED TO DUPLICATE THE UNINTENDED ACCELERATION AND TO CHECK OUT ANY POSSIBLE MECHANICAL DEFECTS. NONE WERE FOUND AND THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED WITH A SUGGESTION TO HAVE A VEHICLE DATA RECORDER INSTALLED WHEN ONE WAS AVAILABLE.*AK

JUST ARRIVED HOME IN MY 1998 FORD EXPEDITION FROM WORK ON OCTOBER 6, 2005 AROUND 5:50 PM RAN IN TO CHANGE CLOTHES. WE WERE IN THE HOUSE NO MORE THAN 5-8 MINUTES WHEN WE HEARD A STRANGE SOUND. RAN TO THE FRONT DOOR AND NOTICED SMOKE AND FIRE COMING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD OF MY VEHICLE. MY NEIGHBOR RAN FOR THE WATER HOSE & PUT WATER ON THE FIRE UNTIL THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED TO HELP. IF THIS HAD HAPPENED JUST A FEW MINUTES BEFORE WE WOULD HAVE BEEN STILL IN THE VEHICLE AND COULD HAVE LOST OUR LIVES IN THE FIRE. JUST A FEW DAYS BEFORE THIS INCIDENT FORD CHOOSE TO SEND OUT RECALL NOTICES IN SEPTEMBER 2005 ON THIS YEAR\ MAKE\MODEL REGARDING THE SPEED CONTROL WIRING. NOT ONLY THAT I HAD JUST TAKEN MY VEHICLE INTO FORD SERVICE AT A LOCAL DEALERSHIP FOR A PROBLEM WITH MY AIR CONDITIONER AND THE REAR END. THEY SHOULD HAVE CORRECTED THIS DEFECT AT THAT TIME BUT DID NOT. FORD SHOULD HAVE SENT OUT RECALL NOTICES A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO DUE TO THIS DEFECT WHEN PEOPLE WERE HAVING PROBLEMS THEN. IF IT HAD BEEN DONE I WOULD STILL HAVE MY VEHICLE UP TO THIS DAY. *JB

98 FORD EXPEDITION UNDER HOOD FIRE I RECEIVED THE RECALL NOTICE ON TUESDAY AND ON WEDNESDAY THE CAR CAUGHT FIRE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DRIVEN IN OVER 24 HRS. FORD HAS BEEN UNRESPONSIVE TO REPEATED CALLS! *NM

DT: THE CONTACT STATES RECEIVED NHTSA RECALL NOTICE 05V017000. VEHICLE IS A 1998 FORD EXPEDITION. THE CONTACT CALLED LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND TRIED TO ARRANGE FOR RECALL WORK TO BE DONE. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THAT FORD WOULD BE SENDING HIM ANOTHER LETTER, TO WAIT FOR THE PART TO COME IN AROUND NOVEMBER. THE DEALERSHIP WOULD NOT MAKE AN ATTEMPT TO PUT THE CONTACT ON THE CALL LIST FOR THE PART. THE CONTACT HAS BEEN ON THE PHONE WITH FORD MOTOR COMPANY, THEY SAID THAT THERE WAS NO ADDITIONAL LETTERS COMING IN THE MAIL. FORD SAID THAT HE SHOULD WAIT FOR THE DEALER TO CONTACT HIM, THEN ,HUNG UP ON THE CONTACT . NO ONE WAS INTERESTED IN FIXING THE RECALL PART. LUCKILY HE KNEW THAT WAS TO BE DISCONNECTED, SO HE DID HIMSELF. THE PROBLEM SEEMED TO BE GETTING THE CONTACT ON THE WAITING LIST FOR THE PART. THE CONTACT WAS ON THE PHONE TRYING TO GET THROUGH TO FORDS CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH TASK FORCE, AND THE NUMBER FOR FORD KEPT REPEATING THE OPTIONS FOR THE CONTACT. THE CONTACT TRIED TO GET THROUGH FOR ALMOST TWENTY MINUTES. THEN THE CONTACT CALLED BACK THREE DIFFERENT TIMES.*AK

DT: OWNER'S VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE SITTING IN THE DRIVEWAY ON THURSDAY FOR ABOUT 5-10 MINUTES. THE OWNER HEARD THE HORN HONKING AND WENT OUTSIDE TO SEE THAT THE VEHICLE WAS IN FLAMES. THE FIRE WAS MORE CONCENTRATED IN THE DRIVER'S SIDE NEAR THE WINDSHIELD IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE OWNER CALLED 911 AND BY THE TIME THE FIRE DEPARTMENT GOT THERE THE TRUCK WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE FIRE TOOK ABOUT 10 MINUTES TO EXTINGUISH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. THERE WAS A FIRE INVESTIGATION AND THE FIRE INVESTIGATOR SAID HE KNEW WHAT CAUSED THE FIRE ,AND THAT HE WAS STILL PREPARING THE REPORT. THERE WAS NO POLICE REPORT. THE FIRE INVESTIGATOR SAID THE FIRE WAS CAUSED BY THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH. THERE WAS DAMAGE TO A POP UP CAMPER THAT WAS LOCATED NEXT TO VEHICLE. ALSO, THERE WAS DAMAGE TO THE SIDING ON THE HOUSE AND THE GUTTERS. THERE WAS SOME DAMAGE TO THE LANDSCAPE TIMBERS AND SOME MULCH AND FLOWERS WERE BURNED AS WELL. THE DRIVEWAY WAS FULL OF DEBRIS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TOWING COMPANY. THE INSURANCE COMPANY WILL COME AND TAKE IT TO THEIR AGENCY STORAGE LOCATION. THE INSURANCE COMPANY HAS BEEN CONTACTED, BUT THE OWNER WAS UNAWARE OF WHETHER THE INSURANCE COMPANY WILL CONDUCT AN INVESTIGATION. THE OWNER DID NOT HAVE THE ADDRESS, BUT DID HAVE THE DEALER'S IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WHICH WAS LISTED IN DEALER INFORMATION.*AK

THE TRUCK WAS PARKED INSIDE OF A PARKING LOT AND IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. NO INJURIES REPORTED. VEHICLE WAS TOWED. *AK FIRE WAS CAUSED BY A FAULTY CRUISE CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH. *TT

RECALL CAMPAIGN 05V017000 CONCERNING CRUISE CONTROL FIRE. VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY WHEN THE NEIGHBORS INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT RESPONDED, AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK *TT

DT JUNE 4TH, 2005 THE VEHICLE BURNED TO THE GROUND. THE FIRE DEPT CAME OUT AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. TWO INVESTIGATORS CAME OUT AND SAID THE FIRE STARTED FROM THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH. THE DECK BURNED ON THE SIDE OF THE HOUSE AND IT ALSO BURNED A TREE. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN SITTING FOR 3 DAYS BEFORE IT CAUGHT FIRE. *JB

THE CONSUMER'S 1998 FORD EXPEDITION CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE PARKED IN THE GARAGE. *NM

DT: THE VEHICLE HAS A PROBLEM WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH.*AK

DT: THE CONSUMER STATES THAT HE IS HAVING PROBLEM WITH HIS 1998 FORD EXPEDITION. THERE IS A RECALL 05V017000 FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. THE DEALERSHIP STATED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS CRUISE CONTROL. THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH QUIT WORKING AND MELTED THE WIRING HARNESS.*AK

ON SUNDAY 5-15-05, I HAD JUST RETURNED HOME FROM VISITING MY BROTHER IN THE HOSP. FROM A GUN SHOT WOUND TO THE FACE. I SAT DOWN IN MY FRONT HOME AND I HAVE A GLASS STORM DOOR, SO I COULD SEE OUTSIDE. NOT 5-MIN. AFTER I WAS IN THE HOUSE I COULD SEE A LOT OF SMOKE OUTSIDE. I SAID OH MY GOD SOMETHING IS ON FIRE. MY HUSBAND AND I WENT OUT WITH THE FIRE EXTINGUISHER AND RAISED THE HOOD ON THE VEHICLE, THERE WAS NO ACTUAL FLAMES TO BE SEEN AT THAT TIME, ONLY SMOKE AND MELTED WIRES.

THE CRUISE CONTROLS STUCK AND THE CAR WENT UP TO 8,000 RPMS. I COULD NOT STOP THE ENGINE FROM RACING, AND I HAD TO TURN OFF THE ENGINE, AND TAKE OUT THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION TO SHUT DOWN THE ENGINE.*AK

THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED FOR A FEW MINUTES WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN IT CAUGHT ON FIRE . RESULTS SHOWED THAT THERE WAS S SHORT WITHIN THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH.*AK

WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IT CAUGHT ON FIRE, ON ITS OWN. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. *AK *SC THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THE FIRE WAS A RESULT OF A DEFECTIVE CRUISE CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH. *JB

VEHICLE WAS TAKEN INTO A SHOP FOR CHECKUP, AND DURING THAT TIME. IT CAUGHT ON FIRE UNEXPECTEDLY. THE SHOP WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE A CAUSE, BUT SEEMED TO BE A SIMILAR PROBLEM TO THE CURRENT INVESTIGATION OF EA 05-005 OF THE SPEED CONTROL SWITCH FIRES.*AK

MY SON WAS DRIVING THE 1998 FORD EXPEDITION AND HAD ENGAGED THE CRUSE CONTROL. THE CRUSE CONTROL WENT OUT OF CONTROL AND REVED THE ENGINE UP TO IN EXCESS OF 8000 RPM. HE WAS ON A HIGHWAY AND WAS ABLE TO SHUT OFF THE CAR AND ROLL TO A STOP. WHEN HE STARTED UP THE CAR AGAIN IN PARK, THE CAR AUTOMATICALLY WENT UP TO THE 8,000 RPM UNTIL HE SHUT IT DOWN.

VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE PARKING LOT WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS AT WORK. THE COWORKER ALERTED THE CONSUMER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. THE FIRE WAS PUT OUT, HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE CRUISE CONTROL NHTSA RECALL 05V017000. *AK

VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE GARAGE AND CONSUMER SMELLED SMOKE. CONSUMER WENT TO THE GARAGE, AND UPON ARRIVING NOTICED THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN ON FIRE AND SMOLDERED OUT. *AK. VEHICLE WOULD NOT STEER. AAA TOWED VEHICLE REPAIR SHOP, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH WIRING BURNED, ALONG WITH FUSE AND BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH. *AK

THE ACCELERATOR BECAME STUCK, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO LUNG FORWARD.*JB

STARTED TO BRAKE AND VEHICLE WENT TO HIGH THROTTLE. *AK

THE GAS PEDAL BECAME STUCK DURING COLD WEATHER. *NLM

THE THROTTLE IN THE VEHICLE STARTED TO STICK. THIS HAPPENED WHEN THE WEATHER STARTED GETTING COLD. WHEN CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE MECHANICS GARAGE, HE SHOWED CONSUMER A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN (99-25-2) STATING THAT THE PCV SYSTEM MAY ICE UP. THE ACCELERATOR STICKS. CONSUMER WOULD SHUT THE ENGINE OFF AND TURN IT BACK ON ONLY TO HAVE THE ENGINE RACE TO ABOUT 65 MPH. HOWEVER BEFORE CONSUMER WOULD GET OFF THE INTERSTATE THE ACCELERATOR WOULD RELEASE. NOW IT REMAINS STUCK. CONSUMER IS AFRAID TO DRIVE VEHICLE FOR FEAR OF AN ACCIDENT. *JG THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD BY THE TECHNICIAN THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. *NM

VEHICLE HESITATES/ STALLS AND KICKS BACK WHEN IT ACCELERATES. PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENTS BUT PROGRESSING. DEALER HAS CHECKED VEHICLE NUMEROUS TIMES, BUT DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM IN ORDER TO FIND THE CAUSE. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.*AK