Pickup Fire Destroyed Equipment Shed

2006 - Volume #30, Issue #5, Page #13

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"Until our machine shed burned down, I didn't know Ford had a defective cruise control switch in many of its vehicles built from 1994 to 2002," says Howard Woehrer, Centertown, Mo.
  "My 1999 F-250 was parked in the shed on June 17, 2006, along with about three-fourths of our farm equipment, when it caught fire and burned everything to the ground. The state Fire Marshall was called in and he determined the fire started in the dash area of the pickup û most likely the cruise control switch. The problem is that even with the ignition switch off, the wire leading to the cruise control switch is always æhot'.
  "After talking to other people and checking on the internet, we discovered there was a huge problem with fires nationwide. The problem switch is in Ford pickups, SUV's and some of their cars.
  "Before our fire, Ford had issued a recall for the switches in the F-150 but not any other models. Had I known the problem existed, I would never have parked the truck inside. It caused the total loss of our 56 by 60-ft., 3-year-old shed as well as our combine, cornhead, grain cart, 6-row planter, 15-ft. bushhog, grain truck, 122 hp tractor, ATV, compact tractor, baler, disc, and field cultivator. We also lost all our tools, welders, and many parts and supplies. We had replacement value insurance so I've been out shopping for used equipment. Needless to say, I'll never own another Ford."
  Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Howard Woehrer, 630 Nine Hills Rd., Centertown, Mo. 65023.
  Editor's note: On August 3, 2006, Ford announced a recall of 1.2 million additional trucks, SUV's and vans built between 1994 and 2002, including Howard Woehrer's truck. Ford said the recall was due to the faulty speed control deactivation switch, which can corrode over time, overheat, and ignite. Last year Ford recalled 3.8 million pickups and SUV's, including the F-150. Dealers install a fused wiring harness to the switch to prevent fire if the switch ever corrodes.

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Pickup Fire Destroyed Equipment Shed MISCELLANEOUS EQUIPMENT Miscellaneous 30-5-13 "Until our machine shed burned down, I didn't know Ford had a defective cruise control switch in many of its vehicles built from 1994 to 2002," says Howard Woehrer, Centertown, Mo. "My 1999 F-250 was parked in the shed on June 17, 2006, along with about three-fourths of our farm equipment, when it caught fire and burned everything to the ground. The state Fire Marshall was called in and he determined the fire started in the dash area of the pickup û most likely the cruise control switch. The problem is that even with the ignition switch off, the wire leading to the cruise control switch is always æhot'. "After talking to other people and checking on the internet, we discovered there was a huge problem with fires nationwide. The problem switch is in Ford pickups, SUV's and some of their cars. "Before our fire, Ford had issued a recall for the switches in the F-150 but not any other models. Had I known the problem existed, I would never have parked the truck inside. It caused the total loss of our 56 by 60-ft., 3-year-old shed as well as our combine, cornhead, grain cart, 6-row planter, 15-ft. bushhog, grain truck, 122 hp tractor, ATV, compact tractor, baler, disc, and field cultivator. We also lost all our tools, welders, and many parts and supplies. We had replacement value insurance so I've been out shopping for used equipment. Needless to say, I'll never own another Ford." Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Howard Woehrer, 630 Nine Hills Rd., Centertown, Mo. 65023. Editor's note: On August 3, 2006, Ford announced a recall of 1.2 million additional trucks, SUV's and vans built between 1994 and 2002, including Howard Woehrer's truck. Ford said the recall was due to the faulty speed control deactivation switch, which can corrode over time, overheat, and ignite. Last year Ford recalled 3.8 million pickups and SUV's, including the F-150. Dealers install a fused wiring harness to the switch to prevent fire if the switch ever corrodes.

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