NHTSA complaint: 1997 FORD F-150 — VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
DT: 1997 F150 FORD SUPER CAB PICKUP TRUCK. THE CRUISE SWITCH CAUGHT THE BRAKE RESERVOIR ON FIRE AND IN TURN, THE CONSUMER DID NOT HAVE ANY BRAKES. THE CONSUMER OPENED THE HOOD AND THREW AN OLD TOWEL OVER THE FIRE AND SMOTHERED THE FLAMES. HAD THE ROAD SERVICE TOW IT TO THE PLACE WHERE NORMALLY THE SERVICE WAS DONE ON THE TRUCK, AND THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT FIX THE PROBLEM BECAUSE THIS WAS A FORD PROBLEM. THEN, IT WAS TOWED TO A FORD DEALERSHIP, AND THE DEALERSHIP GAVE CONSUMER THE MANUFACTURER'S NUMBER, CONTACTED MANUFACTURER, AND THEY SAID A CUSTOMER REPRESENTATIVE WOULD CALL BACK NO LATER THAN TUESDAY, AND ON MONDAY AFTERNOON THE MANUFACTURER DID CALL AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INVOLVED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. CONSEQUENTLY, THEY WOULD NOT DO REPAIRS FOR FREE. CONSUMER CALLED THE INSURANCE COMPANY, AND THEY WERE GOING TO SEND A FIRE INSPECTOR TO INVESTIGATE THE VEHICLE. THE INSURANCE COMPANY SAID THAT THIS WAS FORD'S PROBLEM ALSO. MOREOVER, THE INSURANCE COMPANY WAS GOING TO SEND A CLAIMS ADJUSTER. NO INJURIES REPORTED. *AK *JB
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — Office of Defects Investigation