---

Safety Consultant Promises Fireworks Over 'Ford Playing with Fire'

2 July 1999

Ralph Hoar & Associates: Safety Consultant Promises Fireworks Over 'Ford Playing with Fire'

    ARLINGTON, Va., July 1 -- "Ford is playing with fire and
endangering people's lives," according to Ralph Hoar, an Arlington, Virginia
vehicle safety consultant, with a penchant for uncovering and publicizing
automaker misdeeds.  Ford announced earlier this week that it is recalling
more than 700,000 Contours and Mystiques (1996-1998 model years) because "the
headlight switch wiring harness connector may be damaged by overheating."
Ford's press announcement does not mention that the "overheating" is actually
fire, Hoar said.
    "Ford knows these vehicles catch on fire, NHTSA knows these vehicles catch
on fire, but no one is telling 700,000 Ford owners about the hazard.  By not
mentioning the fire hazard, they're endangering people's lives," Hoar said.
"This is like saying Mrs. O'Leary's cow stopped giving milk because she was
bothered by the Chicago heat," Hoar said in "InSane," a new e-mail newsletter
that his consulting firm is formally launching in today.
    Last month, Ford recalled many of its 1992 and 1993 Lincoln Town Cars,
Crown Victorias and Mercury Marquis because they catch fire.  "Fire may be the
'F... word' around Ford these days, but that's no reason to play word games
with peoples' safety," said Norman Jolly, an attorney in Houston, Texas, who
is representing a number of people whose homes have burned when their Fords
caught on fire in their garages.  "Ford fires have become such a problem that
we're helping Ford owners who have started an organization called 'Burned Up
By Ford,' which has an internet Web page called 'Ford Fires' on The Safety
Forum (http://www.safetyforum.com)" said Jolly.
    After reading Ford's most recent recall announcement, Hoar checked some of
the consumer complaints lodged with NHTSA about 1996-1998 Ford Contours and
Mystiques.  Here are some examples of what Ford calls "overheating":

    *  ODI  781038 - 1996 Ford Contour: "Headlight switch circuit is severely
       overheating, causing the switch harness to burn..."

    *  ODI  801209 - 1996 Ford Contour:  "Upon parking, moments later driver
       was alerted that vehicle had caught fire..."

    *  ODI 830451 - 1996 Ford Contour: "Had headlights on & noticed smoke
       coming from dashboard.  The headlight switch caught fire. Electrical
       system had shorted out..."

    *  ODI  836572 - 1996 Ford Contour:  "Consumer experienced a series of
       electrical problems which resulted in a fire. All lights inside and
       outside went out except the headlamps..."

    *  ODI 824924 - 1997 Ford Contour: "Parked vehicle and turned ignition
       off.  When the owner came back outside noticed that vehicle was on
       fire..."

    *  ODI 833482 - 1998 Ford Contour:  "Consumer took vehicle in for a
       mfr.recall repairs, under dash fire broke out while in the dealer shop
       for repairs.  Needs help on this matter."

    *  ODI 701643 - 1996 Mercury Mystique: "Fire occurred while vehicle was
       parked.  Would like someone to investigate.  Ford says they would not
       investigate and would not compensate for replacement of vehicle..."

    Contact:  Ralph Hoar of Ralph Hoar & Associates, 703-841-8384.
    Website: http://www.safetyforum.com