The defect
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH CAN DEVELOP A RESISTIVE SHORT IN THE ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT THAT COULD POTENTIALLY RESULT IN AN UNDERHOOD FIRE. A FIRE IS POSSIBLE BOTH WHEN THE VEHICLE IS RUNNING AND WHEN THE VEHICLE ENGINE IS OFF. ALSO, THE SHORT COULD DISABLE THE SPEED CONTROL SYSTEM OR CAUSE THE BRAKE LIGHT FUSE TO OPEN.
The risk
A FIRE CAN ORIGINATE IN THE LEFT FRONT UNDERHOOD AREA.
The remedy
DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH AND CONNECTOR SHELL. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MAY 20, 1999.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by ODI
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Ford Crown Victoria | 1992, 1993 |
| Lincoln Town Car | 1992, 1993 |
| Mercury Grand Marquis | 1992, 1993 |
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
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 Crown Victoria | 1992 | 310 | 7 |
| Ford Crown Victoria | 1993 | 182 | 7 |
| Lincoln Town Car | 1992 | 249 | 4 |
| Lincoln Town Car | 1993 | 176 | 4 |
| Mercury Grand Marquis | 1992 | 255 | 3 |
| Mercury Grand Marquis | 1993 | 144 | 3 |
Other electrical system recalls in 1999
24 of the 392 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 1999 concerned the electrical system; FORD MOTOR COMPANY filed 963 campaigns in all.
| 99V333002 23 Nov 1999 | MITSUBISHI CARIBBEAN |
| 99V333001 23 Nov 1999 | MITSUBISHI AMERICA |
| 99V329000 22 Nov 1999 | OVERLAND MOTOR COACH |
| 99V325000 19 Nov 1999 | KIA MOTORS AMERICA, INC. |
| 99V289000 26 Oct 1999 | BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY |
| 99V282000 19 Oct 1999 | AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO. |
| 99V234000 23 Aug 1999 | BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY |
| 99V181002 27 Jul 1999 | FREIGHTLINER CORPORATION |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 1999