Ford announced a recall this week on over 155,000 pickups and SUV.
The latest recall involves 2003 model year versions of the F-150, F-250, F-350, F-450 and F-550 Super Duty truck, the Ford Excursion SUV, and the Lincoln Blackwood pickup.
The issue is a faulty cruise control systems switch that was linked to engine fires in the past two years. Ford officials said on Monday that an internal check found the switch systems in some early 2003 trucks and SUVs to be faulty. The switch system could corrode over time, overheat and ignite.
"We wanted to make sure that customers could go to the dealerships and deal with that as soon as we knew it," Ford spokesman Dan Jarvis said about the recall. He said there have been no reports of fires in any of the vehicles.
To fix the problem, dealers will install a fused wiring harness to the cruise control deactivation switch. Ford officials said about 45 percent of the vehicles under the previous recalls have been repaired.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration investigated last year into the cause of the fires through August of last year, the most recent data available, after it had received 1,472 complaints connected to the problem. This included 65 reports of fires.
Owners of the newly recalled vehicles will receive notices in the mail next week. Dealers will make the repairs at no cost to the owner. Customers can contact Ford at 1-800-392-3673.