Once week after Toyota recalled 3.5 million cars, Ford Motor Co. has dubiously and decisively one-upped the Japanese manufacturer by expanding its massive vehicle recall linked to faulty cruise control switches by 4.5 million vehicles.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has alerted owners of more than a half-dozen truck and van models sold in the U.S. of potential fire hazards linked to the flawed part manufactured by Texas Instruments.
Safety officials investigating the switches said leaking hydraulic fluid can overheat and potentially cause vehicle fires even when the ignition is off.
Toyota recalled several brands last week because of numerous accidents involving unhinged floor mats causing stuck accelerator pedals.
Previous recalls over the past several years related to the faulty cruise control problem covered nearly 12 million Ford vehicles.
Models included in the newest action:
* 1995-2003 Ford Windstars.
* 2000-2003 Ford Excursion diesels.
* 1993-1997 and 1999-2003 Ford F-Super Duty diesels.
* 1992-2003 Ford Econolines.
* 1995-2002 Ford Explorers and Mercury Mountaineers.
* 1995-1997 and 2001-2003 Ford Rangers.
* 1994 Ford F53 motorhomes.
Article Last Updated: October 13, 2009.
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A sports, travel and business journalist for more than 45 years, James has written the new car review column The Weekly Driver since 2004.
In addition to founding this site in 2004, James writes a Sunday automotive column for The San Jose Mercury and East Bay Times in Walnut Creek, Calif., and monthly auto review and wellness columns for Gulfshore Business, a magazine in Southwest Florida.
An author and contributor to many newspapers, magazines and online publications, co-hosted The Weekly Driver Podcast from 2017 to 2024.
