Ford Motor Co. is recalling 4.5 million vehicles due to a faulty switch that can overheat and catch fire. This is Ford’s eighth recall for this problem, which now has prompted the recall of 16 million vehicles.

Before today’s recall, Ford’s cruise control switch recall was already the country’s largest recall.

The switch is used to disengage the cruise control. The part at issue is made by Texas Instruments.

The recall affects the following models:

• 1995-2003 Ford Windstar

• 2000-2003 Ford Excursion diesel

• 1993, 1997, 1999-2003 Ford F-Super Duty diesel

• 1992-2003 Ford Econoline Ford Ranger

• 1994 Ford F53 Motorhome

Owners of these vehicles will receive letters about the recall the week of Oct. 26.

The most recent round of switch recalls stems from February of last year, when Ford started to investigate fires reported under the hood of Windstar vehicles. NHTSA opened an investigation on the new round of recalls in June last year.

(Source: Detroit Free Press)