Ignoring recall can cause truck fires

Some Ford trucks weren’t built tough enough to resist fire.

Two F-150 s have already gone ablaze in Bentonville – and both instances could have been prevented if the owners had paid attention to Ford’s recall notice.

In 2005, Ford Motor Co. issued a safety recall to address fires related to the speed-control switch in various 2000 and 2001-model Ford F-150 s, Ford Expeditions and Lincoln Navigators, as well as trucks from the 2001 F-Series.

City Fire Inspector James Birchfield said both truck fires started while the trucks were stationary and sitting in driveways. One of the fires spread to a house.

The speed-control switch in question includes a diaphragm that, when it fails, releases brake fluid into the engine compartment of the vehicle, creating a fire hazard, Birchfield said.

According to the Ford Web site, www.ford.com, the recall affects 792, 000 automobile owners – and has warranted demand for replacement parts to the point that Ford is experiencing a shortage in the parts.

Meanwhile, owners can head to the local Ford dealership and have the switch disabled to eliminate the risk of fire.

To find out if a particular vehicle is included in the recall, go to www.ford.com, then enter the vehicle’s identification number.

Customers may also contact Ford Customer Assistance at (866 ) 436-7332.