I've always had a queasy feeling about Ford motor vehicles, since the scandals and fatalties related to improper fuel-tank placement in the Ford Pinto, and later, defective tires on Ford Explorers. Now today comes word Ford will recall 3.8 million pickup trucks and SUVs, including the Ford Expedition, Ford Bronco, the F-150 pickup, and the Lincoln Navigator, because the cruise control feature has been found to be a risk factor for engine fires. More from AP:

WASHINGTON -- Ford Motor Co. on Wednesday recalled 3.8 million pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles for a cruise control switch suspected of causing engine fires. It is the fifth largest auto industry recall in U.S. history. Ford said the recall of 1994-2002 model-year vehicles includes the company's hot-selling F-150 pickup truck, Ford Expedition, Lincoln Navigator and Ford Bronco. The company said it would start sending out recall notices to vehicle owners immediately.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the No. 2 U.S.-based automaker have been investigating complaints of engine fires linked to the switch....In the Ford case, NHTSA has received more than 550 complaints of engine fires from the cruise control switch. There have been allegations of three deaths in cases cited in news reports or lawsuits in Iowa, Georgia and Arkansas.

To me, Ford is one of several American auto brands that will always be associated with a high risk for shoddy workmanship, whether deadly or not; with disrespect for the customer; and with the triumph of marketing over quality. The experience of a close relative of mine with problem-riddled Oldsmobiles and Buicks comes to mind, too.

However, note that according to the AP story linked to above, Toyota is recalling a whole bunch of vehicles, as well. Ah, yes. Toyotas. I still remember when - going down a steep incline from Port Alberni on Vancouver Island - the 1987 Toyota Camry I was driving (a by-then cursed gift from a relative) would not brake whatsoever. Interestingly, this came after I'd been using the cruise control. With my wife, and then-toddler son in the car, I became very concerned, very quickly, but had the presence of mind to steer onto the shoulder, and throw the gear shift into "Park."

Since shortly thereafter, I've been the happy owner of a Honda CRV, and was also the happy owner for many years of a Honda Accord, ruined only by body rot from excessive exposure to Midwest snow and road salt (it was still running fine when it had to be hauled off to the junkyard). Honda, that's my auto brand.

FYI, regarding the Pinto, there has been a long-running debate about whether the controversy was overblown. Professor Daniel W. Skubick of California Baptist University here outlines the contents of a famous 1968 Ford memo believed by some to have been used by the company as justification for letting a certain estimated number of motorists die, because expected death settlement costs would have been less than fixing the problem of the rear-mounted fuel tank. Blogger Craig Newmark gives another perspective, with many commenters agreeing the Pinto got a bum rap.

Not sure I really agree with that. But in the end I steer toward autos rated high for mechanical reliability, like my Hondas. While there may be some exceptions, I trust such steady performers to also have been designed more safely than one of the many lemons foisted on the gullible American public by Detroit's multi-billion dollar marketing hype machine.

TECHNORATI TAG: FORD RECALL

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Posted by Matt Rosenberg at September 7, 2005 04:48 PM