Ford Parts Backlog: Owners Get Short End of the Stick

Detroit, MNImagine receiving a recall notice for a fairly serious problem with your Ford vehicle - one that could cause your vehicle to catch fire. So you duly respond to the recall, only to be told that there aren't enough parts, and that you'll have to wait. The parts backlog means you're continuing to drive a dangerous vehicle that could catch fire at any moment.

Even when it's just sitting, parked in the driveway.

Such is the frustration of hundreds of thousands of Ford owners who have received recall notices for faulty cruise control systems. At issue is a faulty switch that could produce a short in the electrical system. Some owners have experienced fires while driving. However, others have seen their vehicles go up in flames parked in the driveway. One family completely lost their house when their Ford Explorer caught fire in the garage. Both the truck, and the home were completely destroyed.

Ford Motor Co. has admitted that it failed to stock sufficient parts, and that it underestimated the scope and response to the safety recall. The number of vehicles is staggering. Ford has issued various recalls for repair to faulty cruise control switches since 1999. With earlier recalls, the number of recalled vehicles has been lower, given the traditional high-end status of the cruise control feature. With a lower number of vehicles, response and repair rates have been higher.

However, cruise control is being offered in more and more vehicles?even compact cars. As cruise control becomes more standardized, the numbers increase exponentially. The recalls, in lock step with availability of cruise control, spike higher as well.

At the moment?and this figure is staggering?it is estimated that 7.1 million cars and trucks are still out there with faulty cruise control switches. The risk is such that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) issued a rare, and strongly-worded advisory to owners of Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles recommending they be taken to the nearest dealer and have the systems disconnected at once, until the required part is available.

"Failure to have the switch disconnected could lead to a vehicle fire at any time, whether or not the key is in the ignition, and whether or not owners use the cruise control system," NHTSA warned.

That's little consolation for a frustrated Ford owner in Mississippi, whose mother's 1988 Mercury Grand Marquis caught fire and was repaired a month BEFORE the recall notice came in. As a result, he put her into his own 1997 Lincoln Town Car, which received a recall notice for the cruise control switch in July of last year. However, when reporting to the dealer, he was told the part wouldn't be available until November. That was soon pushed back to February.

Tired of waiting, he got rid of the Lincoln Town Car and put his mother into a Lexus, instead.

Another Ford owner from Everett, Washington is completely frustrated, and disenchanted with Ford over the delay. "I feel that Ford is not being honest about the completion of the repairs for this recall. I was told in August of 2007 that the repair parts were delayed and they would be in October. That soon became February of 2008. Now I am told the dealers do not know when the parts will be available. I can not get a straight answer from anyone."

This, despite the fact that Ford maintains it is 'ramping up' the parts supply chain to finally put a dent on the remaining seven million vehicles having yet to be repaired.
The manufacturer admits it did not stockpile sufficient parts to meet what it calls unprecedented demand for repairs after the August 2007 recall, an action which saw 4,987,281 vehicles recalled. That's nearly five million. The company was overwhelmed with responses beginning in September.

That should not have been surprising. August falls within the typical vacation season. People are either away at remote locations, traveling, or in 'vacation mode' and unwilling to deal with anything that may seem even remotely complicated until after vacation season ends.

Typically, such an issue is followed-up when school starts, or when it's time to get back to work, or when normal routine resumes. It's curious as to why Ford didn't think of this, when they announced such a massive recall during the summer months. Anyone could have told them there would be little response initially, followed by a wave after Labor Day.

Lawyers say you shouldn't have to put up with that, and disconnecting the cruise control even in the short term not only robs you of a useful, gas-saving feature in this era of high gas prices, but also requires an extra trip into the dealer.

Getting rid of the vehicle is not the answer, either. Ford should be held accountable for its inability to stockpile sufficient parts to offer repairs to a dangerous situation in a timely and expeditious manner. The NHTSA has already highlighted the fact, in its warning communiqu鬠that the cruise control could erupt into flames at any time?driving down the highway with your kids in the back seat, or just sitting parked in the driveway or garage. You don't even have to use the cruise control at all, to have it present a fire hazard.

By making you wait for a replacement part, Ford is asking you to drive either without benefit of a useful and cost-saving device, or with the risk your car, truck or SUV could catch fire at any time.

The legal eagles say you don't have to put up with that. Consult a Ford parts backlog lawyer, and perhaps light a fire under Ford instead.