The defect
THE IGNITION SWITCH COULD EXPERIENCE AN INTERNAL SHORT CIRCUIT.
The risk
THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE OVERHEATING, SMOKE, AND POSSIBLY FIRE IN THE STEERING COLUMN AREA OF THE VEHICLE.
The remedy
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by ODI
Vehicles covered
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
Model years in this recall
NHTSA complaints and the number of recall campaigns for each model year this recall covers.
| Model | Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ford Aerostar | 1988 | 177 | 4 |
| Ford Aerostar | 1989 | 260 | 5 |
| Ford Aerostar | 1990 | 195 | 6 |
| Ford Aerostar | 1991 | 223 | 3 |
| Ford Bronco | 1988 | 52 | 1 |
| Ford Bronco | 1989 | 84 | 2 |
| Ford Bronco | 1990 | 56 | 1 |
| Ford Bronco | 1991 | 32 | 1 |
| Ford Crown Victoria | 1988 | 42 | 2 |
| Ford Crown Victoria | 1989 | 72 | 2 |
| Ford EXP | 1988 | 3 | 1 |
| Ford Escort | 1988 | 143 | 2 |
| Ford Escort | 1989 | 152 | 1 |
| Ford Escort | 1990 | 101 | 2 |
| Ford F-150 | 1991 | 304 | 3 |
| Ford F-250 | 1991 | 107 | 5 |
| Ford F-350 | 1991 | 31 | 5 |
| Ford F150 | 1988 | 139 | 2 |
| Ford F150 | 1989 | 210 | 4 |
| Ford F150 | 1990 | 254 | 4 |
| Ford F250 | 1988 | 62 | 3 |
| Ford F250 | 1989 | 101 | 6 |
| Ford F250 | 1990 | 107 | 6 |
| Ford F350 | 1988 | 29 | 4 |
| Ford F350 | 1989 | 40 | 5 |
| Ford F350 | 1990 | 39 | 6 |
| Ford Mustang | 1988 | 108 | 1 |
| Ford Mustang | 1989 | 109 | 1 |
| Ford Mustang | 1990 | 85 | 1 |
| Ford Mustang | 1991 | 77 | 2 |
Other electrical system recalls in 1996
20 of the 297 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 1996 concerned the electrical system; FORD MOTOR COMPANY filed 963 campaigns in all.
| 96V216000 4 Nov 1996 | NISSAN DIESEL AMERICA, INC |
| 96V222000 4 Nov 1996 | PREVOST CAR, INCORPORATED |
| 96V223000 4 Nov 1996 | PREVOST CAR, INCORPORATED |
| 96V220000 1 Nov 1996 | FLEETWOOD ENT., INC. |
| 96V193000 2 Oct 1996 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY |
| 96V186000 26 Sept 1996 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. |
| 96V177000 18 Sept 1996 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY |
| 96V127000 2 Jul 1996 | PREVOST CAR, INCORPORATED |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 1996