NOTICED IN LOCAL PAPER CONCERN OVER FIRES IN HEATING/VENTILATING SYSTEM OF FORD VEHICLES. BURNING OF LEAVES CAUGHT IN HEATER DUCTING WHICH WAS IGNITED BY HEATER MOTOR SPEED CONTROL RESISTANCE COILS LOCATED IN HEATER DUCTWORK HAS HAPPENED TWO TIMES ON MY 1984 FORD RANGER PICKUP. THE FIRST TIME WAS IN THE LATE 1980'S IN OCTOBER …
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NOTICED IN LOCAL PAPER CONCERN OVER FIRES IN HEATING/VENTILATING SYSTEM OF FORD VEHICLES. BURNING OF LEAVES CAUGHT IN HEATER DUCTING WHICH WAS IGNITED BY HEATER MOTOR SPEED CONTROL RESISTANCE COILS LOCATED IN HEATER DUCTWORK HAS HAPPENED TWO TIMES ON MY 1984 FORD RANGER PICKUP. THE FIRST TIME WAS IN THE LATE 1980'S IN OCTOBER OR NOVEMBER AND THE LATEST INCIDENT WAS OCTOBER OF 1997. HORTOCULTURIST AT BOTANICAL GARDEN WHERE I VOLUNTEER HAD A SIMILAR FIRE IN JANUARY OF 1999 IN A 1980'S FULL SIZED FORD PICKUP (DON'T KNOW EXACT YEAR). ALTHOUGH THIS TYPE OF FIRE IS SHORT AND DOES NOT APPEAR TO DO A GREAT AMOUNT OF DAMAGE; IT IS VERY DISTURBING AT THE TIME. YOUR VISIBILITY IS CLOUDED, YOU IMMEDIATELY GET OFF OF ROAD TO GET OUT OF 'BURNING' VEHICLE AND FOR SOME TIME VEHICLE HAS ASHES BLOWING FROM VENT SYSTEM AND ODOR OF SMOLDERING LEAVES LEFT IN VEHICLE. THIS COULD BE A SIGNIFICANT TRAFFIC SAFETY OCCURANCE IF TRAFFIC WAS HEAVY AND CONTROL OF VEHICLE WAS LOST OR ONCOMING TRAFFIC HIT VEHICLE AS IT WAS BEING STOPPED TO CHECK SOURCE OF THE 'FIRE'. I NOTICE THAT THE 1992 FORD E-150 VAN WHICH WE OWN HAS A FINER MESH SCREEN BELOW THE VENT AIR INTAKE IN FRONT OF THE WINDSHIELD; WHEREAS, THE 1984 (AND OTHER) FORD VEHICLE DOES NOT. WHEN I CAN REMEMBER EACH YEAR, I REMOVE THE HEATER CONTROL SWITCH FROM THE DUCTING AND FISH OUT THE LEAVES WITH A PIECE OF WIRE THROUGH THE SMALL ACCESS HOLE. DON'T REMEMBER TO DO THIS EVERY YEAR--AND I EXPECT MOST OWNERS DON'T OR DON'T KNOW HOW AND FORD DEALERS PROBABLY ARE NOT AWARE THAT THIS IS A POTENTIAL SAFETY ISSUE WHICH SHOULD BE ADDRESSED.
NHTSA ODI #703638
Mileage unknown · Jun 3, 1998
VisibilityFireInjury
THE DESIGN AND LOCATION OF THE OPEN WIRE WOUND MOTOR SPEED CONTROL RESISTOR BLOCK ALLOWS FOR DEBRIS TO COLLECT RESULTING IN VEHICLE FIRE AND INJURY TO CONSUMER. (ATTORNRY FOR CONSUMER).
SECONDARY HOOD LATCH COMPONENTS MAY HAVE BEEN IMPROPERLY POSITIONED DURING ASSEMBLY. IF THE HOOD IS NOT CLOSED TIGHTLY, OR IS INADVERTENTLY RELEASED, THE SECONDARY LATCH MAY NOT WORK AND THE HOOD MAY FLY UP WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Not supplied
Remedy: THE HOOD ASSEMBLY WILL BE INSPECTED AND THE HOOD AND LATCH COMPONENTS WILL BE ADJUSTED, IF NECESSARY, WITHOUT CHARGE TO THE OWNER.
WEIGHT RATING INFORMATION IS INCORRECT ON VEHICLE MANUAL LABELS AND RATING DECALS.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Not supplied
Remedy: DEALERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH THE REVISED VEHICLE INFORMATION. IF VEHICLE WEIGHT IS FOUND TO BE GREATER THAN THAT SPECIFIED ON WEIGHT RATING, THE AFFECTED VEHICLE"S REAR AXLE MAY BE REPURCHASED FROM FORD. A PRICE ADJUSTMENT WILL ALSO BE MADE IF APPROPRIATE.
IF TRUCK IS STRUCK FROM THE SIDE, THE CAP ON THE FUEL TANK COULD BECOME UNSEALED, ALLOWING UNSAFE LEAKAGE OF FUEL. THIS IS A FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD 301, "FUEL SYSTEM INTEGRITY". LEAKAGE CAN BE CAUSED BY AN ORANGE-COLORED PLASTIC DIESEL FUEL INFORMATION RING WHICH IS FOUND AROUND THE FUEL TANK NECK, OR BY THE TETHER.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Not supplied
Remedy: UPON INSPECTION, FUEL CAP TETHERS WILL BE REPLACED OR DIESEL FUEL INFORMATION RINGS WILL BE REMOVED.
COMPONENTS IN THE LOCKING HUBS WERE IMPROPERLY HEAT-TREATED AND MAY CRACK OR FRACTURE UPON ENGAGEMENT OF THE FRONT DRIVE AXLES. THE BROKEN COMPONENT ON THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL MAY BECOME JAMMED AGAINST THE NUT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Not supplied
Remedy: CAM ASSEMBLIES IN FRONT WHEEL AUTOMATIC LOCKING HUBS WILL BE REPLACED.
THE BOLTS THAT ATTACH THE D-SHAPED RING FOR THE SHOULDER BELT ARE INADEQUATELY SUPPORTED BY THE MATERIAL IN WHICH THEY ARE MOUNTED. THE ATTACHMENT DOES NOT COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 210, "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY ANCHORAGES".
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Not supplied
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL NEW ATTACHING HARDWARE TO IMPROVE THE STRENGTH OF THE MOUNTING.
VEHICLES MAY HAVE FUEL OR VAPOR LINE DAMAGE CAUSED WHEN AN INCORRECT PROCEDURE WAS USED IN TIGHTENING BOLTS ON ADJACENT COMPONENTS DURING ASSEMBLY. THE FUEL TANK MAY BECOME DAMAGED DUE TO A LOOSE CROSS MEMBER THAT SUPPORTS IT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Not supplied
Remedy: VEHICLES WILL BE INSPECTED AND, WHEN NECESSARY, FUEL AND VAPOR LINES WILL BE REPLACED AND THE CROSS MEMBER WILL BE TIGHTENED.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
1
DP85008 · Stalling
Opened Jan 4, 1985 · Closed Apr 26, 1985
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:gasoline
STALLING
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