Vehicle will speed up or slow down in certain times for certain speeds without notice smell of smok and looked hurt wiring

- Grand Prarie, TX, USA

The contact owns a 1997 Ford Expedition. While driving 70 mph with the cruise control activated she was unable to disengage it. When she attempted to stop the vehicle it continued to accelerate up to 80 mph. The current mileage was 176,000. The failure mileage was 117,668.

- Helena, MT, USA

The contact owns a 1997 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that there was a defect recall on the cruise control unit in his vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer to be serviced for the recall repair. After the repair work was performed, the cruise control device did not operate. The contact stated that the cruise control was operating normally prior to the repair. The authorized dealer stated that the cruise control needed to be replaced. The contact was displeased about the additional costs needed for the repair. The vehicle has not been repaired. The VIN and recall number were unknown. The failure and current mileages were 29,000.

- Kerman, CA, USA

The contact owns a 1997 Ford Expedition. The contact awakened to find his vehicle engulfed in flames at his residence. The fire department extinguished the fire and filed a report. An investigator from the fire department stated that the fire appeared to have originated from the cruise control, but more conclusive evidence was needed to support that hypothesis. The vehicle was completely destroyed and the contact's home sustained severe property damage in excess of $100,000. The manufacturer did not provide any assistance. The contact has pictures. The VIN was verified, but appears to be invalid. The current and failure mileages were 160,000.

- Raleigh, NC, USA

The contact owns a 1997 Ford Expedition. The contact received a safety recall notice for the vehicle speed control: Cruise control in 2005. Since that time, she has received more than four additional notices. She plans to have the speed control disconnected on April 2, 2008. She has attempted to have the recall repair performed on several occasions, but is continually informed that the part is unavailable. There had been no failure to date. The recall number and purchase date were unknown. The current mileage was 198,000.

- Patagonia, AZ, USA

The contact owns a 1997 Ford Expedition. The contact was dissatisfied that the parts to repair NHTSA campaign id number 05V388000 (vehicle speed control) would be unavailable until 2008. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer and was unable to schedule an appointment to have the repair performed. He has bad knees and cannot disconnect the cruise control. There had been no failure to date. The current mileage was 120,000.

- Tucson, AZ, USA

The contact owns a 1997 Ford Expedition. The supervisor notified the contact that the vehicle caught on fire while parked in the garage. The fire was caused by the cruise control deactivation switch. The fire marshall stated that the engine caught on fire due to the cruise control firing off and spreading to the engine. The vehicle was totaled. The current and failure mileage were 200,000.

- Mesquite, TX, USA

On November 11, 2005 driving my Ford Expedition on highway 410 and jones maltberger in the city of san antonio Texas. My car was on fire in the front hood. I believe it got caught on fire because it has a defective speed control causing on the vehicle control deactivation switch because it overheated and smoke and burning under the hood happened. I contacted Ford and they don't want to be responsible to make repairs. Ford sent an inspector on January 4, 2006, who was in charge of the case from Consumer Affairs. He sent a letter, and concern was reviewed and was not able to verify it as a manufacturer's defect. Also, could not offer assistance at this time.. updated 4/6/2006 -. updated on 05/16/2006-

- San Antonio , TX, USA

The contact stated after receiving NHTSA recall campaign 05V388000 concerning the vehicle speed control, the interim deactivation repair was performed as indicated in the recall. When the parts were available the recall repair was completed by the dealer. Although the vehicle displayed no previous problems with the cruise control, after the recall was completed, the cruise control did not work. The vehicle was returned to the dealer. A diagnostic test determined there was a resistance short and high current exposed by the newly installed switch. The service department suggested the problem was not the newly installed switch, but a condition as a result of the interim deactivation which exposed some of the wires. The resistant short out and there was high current. All they fixed was a fuse jumper wire between switch and vehicle speed control unit.

- Clifton Park, NY, USA

The contact received NHTSA recall campaign id # 05V017000, concerning vehicle speed control: Cruise control. He took the vehicle to dealer for service. The dealer did not disconnect the switch. He had to make two trips to the dealer before they disconnected the switch. Updated 12/27/05.

- Stroudsburg, PA, USA

The contact's son owns a vehicle that was parked in a high school parking lot when a Ford Expedition caught on fire and caused damage to her son's car. This happened on 10-17-05. The fire dept determined the cause of the fire was the scds. Also, a police report was taken. This was reported to contact's insurance company. The insurance company stated the contact never received a recall letter, thus relieving him of any liability to the other vehicles that were burned because of this incident. The contact's son did not have sufficient insurance to cover the damage done to his vehicle. Updated 11/29/2005 - the complainant son owned a 1989 Toyota Celica 2 door which was parked next to the Expedition when it caught on fire.

- Toms River, NJ, USA

The contact stated vehicle caught fire while driving. He received recall 05V388000 concerning vehicle speed control:cruise control. Smoke was coming from the air vents. He stopped the vehicle, tried to put the vehicle into park and it would not go. He put the vehicle in neutral, turned vehicle off, and then was able to put into the park position. The automatic door locks would not work. The contact had to break the window and unlock the door with the key to get out of the vehicle. He was able to pull the hood latch, and when the hood opened, there was a big cloud of black smoke and then flames. The fire department was called and a report was taken. The Ford investigator determined that the extent of the fire was severe. However, they could not determine the cause of the fire. The manufacturer will not offer any restitution.

- Indianapolis, IN, USA

Ford caught fire on September 16, 2005, contacted Ford, they said vehicle was included in the recall, however, they said it was so severely damaged that they could not tell were it started. As a result, they had to deny the claim. The vehicle had been sitting five to ten minutes before it caught on fire. There was no forewarning, and no noise was heard before this happened.

- Salisbury, MD, USA

Contact owns a 1997 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that the vehicle caught on fire last night. She had driven the vehicle approximately 1 hour prior to the vehicle catching on fire. The contact stated that while attempting to start the vehicle the consumer smelled an electrical odor. There was a fire underneath the hood of the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to a service dealer. They informed the consumer that this vehicle was not included in the recall due to VIN. The consumer searched the NHTSA website to see whether there was an open investigation for this vehicle's make/model, and year.

- Buffalo, NY, USA

On August 15, 2005 the contact was at work when he was alerted by security that his 1997 Ford Expedition was on fire. He went outside to see what was going on and discovered vehicle was on fire. The fire department had already arrived and put out the fire. The fire department advised the contact that it was an electrical fire. A fire report was taken, but the contact had not reviewed it yet. The fire was most severe in the engine compartment in front of where the driver sat. The fire started near the master cylinder. The contact was aware of the investigation into cruise control switch, EA05005, and believed this was the cause of the fire. The contact was concerned because this vehicle was parked near other vehicles and it could do damage to the other vehicles. If the vehicle burned while at home there could have been damage to the contacts home or injuries to family. The vehicle was totaled.

- Winetka, CA, USA

The consumer stated 1997 Ford Expedition. Caught on fire. The fire started under the hood, and was in the cruise control area. The vehicle was parked and turned off. The driver exited the vehicle about three minutes earlier. There was no smoke before this. The driver had not used the cruise control that day. The truck had driven fine earlier. The vehicle was moved from the fire location by the Ford dealership. The vehicle is currently at the Ford dealership. The consumer has a fire report which stated that there was no leakage. There was no insurance on the vehicle. No injuries were reported. Everything on the dashboard was normal. The consumer thought that it was the cruise control because of the fires location and the wheel well. Also, the vehicle was regularly maintained. While on fire bystanders that took pictures. The consumer has been advised to review the NHTSA website and submit the pictures to ODI.

- Philadelphia, PA, USA

On 13 July 2005, I parked my 1997 Ford Expedition at a co-workers home. We left for work in his vehicle. 45 minutes later, I received a telephone call from his spouse. She stated my vehicle was on fire and the schertz fire department had responded. The vehicle was a total loss. The deputy fire marshall, terry aikman, opined the ignition point of the fire was at the cruise control circuits. I contacted Ford Motor Company who responded with a letter. The letter said Ford regretted my loss but could not help because the vehicle was not currently on their recall list.

- Schertz, TX, USA

1997 Ford Expedition caught on fire while parked.** answer required***. fire caused by cruise control deactivation switch.

- Unknown, DC, USA

Contact states: A fire occurred in 1997 Ford Expedition. It burnt the cruise control switch, the wiring harness, and it melted the brake fluid reservoir, which could lead to the vehicle having no brakes. He talked to Ford, and contact's vehicle was not included in the recall. Contact believed the recall should have been broader and gone back to earlier years.

- Franklin, MA, USA

Consumer drove vehicle and parked it outside of his house about five minutes later it was in flames. Consumer contacted Ford, and was advised not to move the vehicle because they were going to send someone to inspect it. However, Ford did not as of yet inspect vehicle, and case was closed. Vehicle is still sitting in front of house. According to Ford customer hotline the cnn story was off base and NHTSA was also off base.

- Roslindale, MA, USA