WASHINGTON - Ford Motor Co. on Wednesday recalled 3.8 million pickups and sport utility vehicles for a cruise control switch suspected of causing engine fires. It is the fifth largest auto industry recall in U.S. history.
Ford said the recall of 1994-2002 model-year vehicles includes the company's F-150 pickup, Ford Expedition, Lincoln Navigator and Ford Bronco. The company said it would start sending out notices to vehicle owners immediately.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the No. 2 U.S.-based automaker have been investigating complaints of engine fires linked to the switch.
Toyota Motor Corp., meanwhile, recalled 978,000 sport utility vehicles and pickups amid concerns over the power steering system. The affected vehicles include the 1990-95 4Runner SUV, 1989-95 4WD truck and 1993-98 T-100 pickup.
Toyota said a rod linking the steering wheel and the wheels could fracture under conditions where the steering wheel is turned while the vehicle is stopped. Owners will be notified beginning in mid-September, the company said.
In the Ford case, NHTSA has received more than 550 complaints of engine fires from the cruise control switch. There have been allegations of three deaths in cases cited in news reports or lawsuits in Iowa, Georgia and Arkansas.
The affected vehicles include: 1994-2002 model F-150s, 1997-2002 Expeditions, 1998-2002 Navigators and 1994-96 Broncos equipped with factory-installed speed control.
"We have a solution that fixes the problem, and we're confident that this is going to be the right remedy," said Ford spokeswoman Kristen Kinley.
Dealers will install a fused wiring harness to act as a circuit breaker in the system.
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