Recalls


CampaignManufacturerManufacturing dateType# of units affectedDate Owner notified MfgRecall Initiated byManufacturers of recalled vehicles/productsReport Recieved DateRecord Creation DateRegulation Part NumberFMVSS Number
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - IGNITION
96V071000FORD MOTOR COMPANYfrom 08/01/1987 to 09/30/1992V (Vehicle)790000006/07/1996ODIFORD MOTOR COMPANY04/25/199605/01/1996
Defect SummaryThe ignition switch could experience an internal short circuit.
Consequence SummaryThis condition could cause overheating, smoke, and possibly fire in the steering column area of the vehicle.
Corrective SummaryDealers will replace the ignition switch.
NotesSystem: electrical; ignition switch. vehicle description: passenger and multi-purpose vehicles and light duty trucks. note: owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time, should contact ford at 1-800-392-3673. also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-800-424-9393.

Bulletins


BulletinBulletin dateReplacement BulletinItem no.SummaryAdded
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - WIRING
9922210/18/19996089681Subject on a wire harness terminal repair kit available for repairing electrical wiring harnesses. *tt02/11/2000
9624611/18/199650905Wiring - electrical diode identification and service replacements. *tw06/17/1997

Consumer Complaints


Fail datemilesoccurencesPurchase date
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
01/20/1997103/20/1995
 Electrical fire.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
03/24/2000103/01/2000
 No summary listed for abov evehicle. *ak
07/30/1999
 Alernator is not charging the battery because the plug on the alternator caught fire. there is not indication that the alternator is not working until the battery dies or the alternator catches fire. consumer contacted dealer. *ak
07/02/19971
 While the vehicle was parked for a few minutes, the vehicle smelled like smoke. when the comsumer got closer to it smoke was coming out from under the hood; the vehicle was towed to a shop, and the mechanic said the fire started at the alternator or the wires of the alternator. vehicle was repaired. the manufacturer was not contacted. *ak *slc
10/20/19961
 Alternator fire.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - IGNITION
07/01/20111
 Letter on behalf of concern about the 1996 recall on lincoln town cars, his brother-in-law is having electrical problem with the ignition switch on his 1989 lincoln town car; send incoming ltr with reply to attn: allison jackson/foley *tgw the consumer stated the key did not operate properly. the consumer learned a recall had been issued for the problem, but the previous owners were not aware of the problem when they sold the vehicle to the consumers brother-in-law. *jb
09/07/20001
 While driving, the starter solenoid self activated and slammed the starter gear into the flywheel immediately disabling the car, this had caused the flywheel to break and ruined the starter, consumer was told he also needed to replace the ignition and when taking out the old switch, the parts fell out into pieces, now that the ignition switch has been replaced the air conditioner works when it had quit a couple weeks prior, consumer is now aware of recall 96v071 and feels this recall was the cause of these problems. *slc
08/01/199712/01/1996
 Purchased cream puff towncar in 1996. mid 1997, vehicle began stalling after the engine reached operating temperature. independant mechanic-no help. ford dealer, spent almost $1,000.00 to replace several items. each time, i told them to check the ignition module/coil pickup. ford dealer said that wouldn't be the problem. enroute back to the dealer for either the 3d or 4th time and totalled the automobile while attempting to keep it from stalling. my fault but i shouldn't have been fighting the car and going to the dealer in the first place. my father has a 1985 continental with only 30k miles. same problem with the ignition module which he just replaced. just heard that ford knew about this problem the whole time. of course i can't prove now the module was bad since the car was totalled going back to the dealer. i just wanted to add my 2 cents.*ak
09/17/20001
 Vehicle intermittently stalling while driving. dealer was not notified at this time. *ak engine cuts off after driving for about 10 minutes. the manufacturers states it is being evaluated. *yh
11/12/19951
 While parked an electrical short in the ignition switch caused the vehicle to catch on fire. *ak consumer learned about recall 96v071, however in order to be considered for recall, vehicle needed to be inspected by ford and it had already been towed. *slc
 The ignition switch tried to start itself while already on. owner had to unhook battery cable, that was smoking and sparkling, in order to stop.
08/05/1996
 The dealership will honor the recall letter.
 After auto was driven approx 5 miles , auto lost power and consumer pulled off road, then realized auto was on fire. *ak
12/12/1995
 Fire started in the steering column, possible due to electrical short in ignition area. tt
07/11/1995
 When stopping short the vehicle tends to stall. please describe. *ak
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - IGNITION - SWITCH
03/01/20011
 Consumer states that it is hard to start up vehicle due to the ignition switch. cause unknown. dealer notified.*jb
02/01/2000108/01/1995
 Vehicle caught fire near steering wheel, under the dash due to an electrical short in the ignition switch. dealer has vehicle. *ak *ml
01/02/1997
 Electrical: ignition switch recall#96v071000. having same problem, but this car is not in the recall. *ak
06/21/1998
 Vehicle caught on fire while parked in inside garage & ignition switch turned off. property damage was due to fire. consumer was informed vehicle was involved in manufacturer's. recall # 95s-28 / nhtsa # 96v-071000 pertaining to an ingition switch which could experience an internal short circuit. dealer/mfr was not notified at this time. *ak
09/01/1995109/01/1995
 Ignition switch failure resulting in vehicle fire.
1
 Recall repairs on ignition switch not performed due to a problem with dealership.
04/14/19971
 Recall repair on ignition switch failed, causing smoke and sparks.
04/22/1996103/01/1994
 Ignition switch fire.
06/14/1996109/05/1989
 Ignition switch fire prior to recall.
10/04/1994104/01/1993
 Electrical fire in steering column.
06/03/19963
 Ignition switch shorted, causing fire. *dh
06/10/1996
 Ignition switch cuts off and car stalls. the steering leaks. *ak
05/10/1996
 Upon waiting to receive letter from mfg., vehicle caught fire while parked for 3 to 4 minutes. please describe details.
12/31/1992
 While driving vehicle saw smoke coming ignition switch, steering column compartment fire. *ak
02/20/19960
 Ignition switch caused fire. *dsh
07/05/1994
 After starting the ignition, smoke started coming from the steering column, causing the vehicle to catch on fire. please describe. *ak
01/01/1996
 Noticed smoke coming from steering column, dealer said a little longer driven there could have been a fire, replace switch. *ak
10/20/1995
 The ignition switch caught fire while off . please describe. *ak
07/01/1994
 Ignition switch caught fire and ignited the vehicle. tt
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - WIRING
10/13/200376000105/02/1998
 After parking the vehicle and turning off the ignition, the consumer heard a popping sound. a few seconds passed and the consumer saw thick black smoke and a fire coming from the engine compartment. the fire was extinguished and the vehicle was taken to the dealer. the dealer informed the consumer that the problem may have been the wiring harness. *jb *nlm
08/11/19983
 Started to smell rubber burning while driving 30mph. noticed smoke coming from steering column. pulled into shopping area & got out. soon flames shot out of steering column. fire department called & arrived to put out the flames. was informed it was electrical wiring. this has happened 3 times. *ak
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - WIRING - FRONT UNDERHOOD
08/22/20011512/01/1994
 No summary listed for above vehicle. *ak
11/01/1990711/01/1988
 Vehicle stalled 7 times due to wiring harness burning out, once causing accident/injuries.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - WIRING - INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
 The car was park in the drive way when it was on fire for no reason. the fire came from the steering wheel. *ak
 Car caught on fire in steering column. 1987 lincoln caught on fire in the same place. please describe details. tt
03/14/19951
 Had electrical fire in steering column. tt
10/10/19941
 Steering column fire. *skd