One of the great advantages of exotic car rental is that you don’t have to worry about manufacturer recalls. That hassle is the responsibility of the exotic car rental company. But when you own a car, manufacturer recalls sometimes just go with the territory.
Ford Motor Company announced Tuesday that they will be recalling 4.5 million additional vehicles for a malfunction involving the cruise control switch. The single largest recall in the company’s 106-year history, the total number of cars recalled is expected to exceed 16 million.
The deactivation switch for the cruise control system, which was manufactured by Texas Instruments, is the cause of the recall. The switch can potentially leak hydraulic fluid, which can then become overheated and ignite.
Even when the vehicle is turned off, the risk of fire is too high to be considered safe. The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) warned that drivers should be on the lookout for malfunctioning cruise control systems, difficulty shifting the vehicle into gear, and illuminated brake system warning lights.
The following vehicle are affected by the recall:
- 1995 – 2003 Ford Windstars
- 2000 – 2003 Ford Excursions with diesel engines
- 1995 – 1997 and 2001 – 2003 Ford Rangers
- 1995 – 2002 Ford Explorers
- 1995 – 2002 Mercury Mountaineers
- 1994 Ford F35 motorhomes
- 1993-1997 and 1999-2003 Ford F-Super Duty trucks with diesel engines
- 1992 – 2003 Ford Econolines
Recalls are only one of the many hassles of owning an exotic car. There’s the high purchase price, the search for a qualified maintenance professional, and the concerns about security. For many, joining an exotic car club simply makes more sense.
If you do choose to own an exotic vehicle, you can save money by comparing insurance rates with a free insurance quote in Aledo TX or anywhere else in Texas. You can also find secure exotic car storage in Dallas.
To see if your Ford vehicle is part of the recall, you can call Ford at 1-800-392-3673.
Kate Miller-Wilson is a professional freelance writer living near the Twin Cities.
