Statement of Ralph Nader on Ford Recall

On the same day Ralph Nader wrote to Ford Motor Company Chairman and CEO Bill Ford, Jr., urging him to recall all Ford vehicles manufactured with a hot-wired speed control deactivation switch, Ford announced it will recall only a fraction of the dangerous parts.

Earlier, Nader wrote to National Highway Traffic Safety Administrator Dr. Jeffrey Runge to request a consumer alert–after learning of the agency’s slow-moving defect investigation of the speed control deactivation switch.

Considering that Ford admitted to CNN there are 16 million vehicles with the same or similar switches, the September 7, 2005 recall of 3.8 million vehicles is deficient. The announcement today marks the third time this switch has resulted in a major recall of Ford cars and trucks, and yet the automaker continues to allow millions of vehicles with the perilous part remain on the road.

“This is not enough,” said Nader. “Ford Motor Company’s sluggish and piecemeal approach to its automotive responsibilities betrays motorists’ safety. If this part has now been recalled on three separate occasions, why isn’t it simply removed from the fleet? Ford’s action today once again corroborates the deadly hazard this cruise control switch poses to life and property–and unfortunately it leaves open the potential for more life-threatening vehicle fires.”

**********************************************************************
For more information contact Rob Cirincione
[email protected]