Here is some information on the cruise control issue. (Article copy/pasted below). I know about this because I worked for Ford from 2006 - 2009, and when I started, this was a huge recall and was a major issue for Ford. We even had a special process that we had to follow anytime someone called in to our customer service center to report their vehicle caught on fire. In some cases, their vehicle was parked in the garage not even running and it caught on fire.
I will tell you that all Ford vehicles that were involved in this recall were continuously sent notifications from Ford and the NHTSA notifying that their vehicle was involved in this NHTSA mandated safety recall, and to bring it in to their local Ford dealership to have the recall performed free of charge. And all vehicles brought in for service at a dealership are entered into Ford's OASIS system and any outstanding recalls are performed anytime it's in for service. In my opinion it's unlikely that an ambulance company would ignore any vehicles in its fleet that needed to have a safety recall done.
Ford Expands Cruise Control Switch Recall
Posted: Oct 14, 2009 10:26 a.m.
Ford's biggest vehicle recall just got a lot bigger.
The Detroit News reports, "Ford Motor Co. agreed to expand its largest-ever recall by about 4.5 million vehicles over a faulty switch linked to hundreds of vehicle fires. The action, which comes in the face of an 18-month federal investigation, means the company has now called back more than 14 million vehicles in eight separate recalls over a 10-year period because of the problem."
Autoblog explains, "the [cruise control] switch can leak and overheat, which can lead to smoking and, in some cases, fire." The switch has been linked to over 500 fires and about 1,500 owner complaints. About 16 million Ford vehicles are equipped with the switch.
Kicking Tires comments, "This has been a black cloud for Ford for nearly 10 years. The automaker recalled 9.6 million vehicles between 1999 and 2008 and is still battling dozens of lawsuits over the issue."
The expanded recall now includes the 1995 to 2003 Ford Windstar; the 2000 to 2003 Ford Excursion diesel; the 1993 to1997 and 1999 to 2003 Ford F-Super Duty diesel; the 1992 to 2003 Ford Econoline; the 1995 to 2002 Ford Explorer and Mercury Mountaineer; the 1995 to1997 and 2001 to 2003 Ford Ranger; and 1994 Ford F53 Motorhome vehicles equipped with the Texas Instruments speed control deactivation.
It's important for owners of these and other recalled vehicles to take note. The Detroit News reports that because the recall centers on the cruise control switch, some owners have ignored it, deciding to simply not use cruise control on those vehicles. However, in some cases, it appears the leak has occurred when the vehicle wasn't even in use. Lawsuits against Ford allege that affected vehicles have caught fire while parked in their owners' garages, leading to house fires and even some deaths.
Ford will begin recalling the vehicles on October 26.. If you own one of the affected vehicles, you can bring it to a Ford dealer who will repair the switch free of charge. You can also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration directly with questions about the recall at 1-888-327-4236.