GOOD EVENING.
TONIGHT'S TOP STORY, A FOLLOW-UP TO AN ITV NEWS EXCLUSIVE THAT
AFFECTS YOU AND YOUR FAMILY'S SAFETY.
(GORDON)
WE HAVE TWO RECALLS TO TELL YOU ABOUT TONIGHT...ONE INVOLVES CHRYSLER,
THE
OTHER FORD. 
GOOD EVENING.
TONIGHT'S TOP STORY, A FOLLOW-UP TO AN ITV NEWS EXCLUSIVE THAT
AFFECTS YOU AND YOUR FAMILY'S SAFETY.
(GORDON)
WE HAVE TWO RECALLS TO TELL YOU ABOUT TONIGHT...ONE INVOLVES CHRYSLER,
THE
OTHER FORD.
(GORDON)
ITV NEWS WAS THE FIRST TO WARN YOU ABOUT IGNITION FIRES IN FORD
AEROSTAR VANS
AND OTHER FORD VEHICLES.. TODAY THE COMPANY ANNOUNCED ITS RECALLING
ALMOST A
QUARTER MILLION VEHICLES.
IT AFFECTS YOU IF YOU OWN A 1989 OR 1990 FORD ESCORT,
A 1989, 90 0R 91 FORD MUSTANG,
A 1990 OR 91 THUNDERBIRD OR COUGAR
A 1988 OR 89 CROWN VICTORIA OR GRAND MARQUIS,
A 1989 LINCOLN TOWN CAR,
A 1990 BRONCO OR F-SERIES PICK-UP TRUCK,
OR A 1989, 90 OR 91 FORD AEROSTAR VAN.
FORD WANTS TO REPLACE
THE IGNITION SWITCH LOCATED IN THE STEERING COLUMN OF
THESE VEHICLES.
FORD SAYS UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS THE SWITCH MAY SHORT CIRCUIT, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
(GORDON) OUR TROUBLESHOOTER HAS BEEN WORKING ON THIS STORY AND JOINS US NOW TO TELL US ABOUT THE RECALL.
(LYNDA) ROSS WE'VE KNOWN ABOUT THIS PROBLEM FOR SOMETIME NOW. WHAT PROMPTED THE RECALL TODAY?
(ROSS) IT COULD BE
PUBLIC PRESSURE. ITV WAS FIRST TO REPORT STEERING COLUMN FIRES IN
FORD AEROSTARS THIS PAST SUMMER.
THAN JUST LAST MONTH WE DISCOVERED THE PROBLEM WAS WIDESPREAD AND FAR REACHING.
AND STILL FORD WAS NOT
PREPARED TO ISSUE A RECALL. BUT WE BEEN CALLING
CONSTANTLY AND TODAY FORD CANADA TOLD US THEY FELT OBLIGATED TO DO
SOMETHING
FOR FORD OWNERS TO ALLEVIATE THEIR FEARS.
EARLIER THIS MONTH ANOTHER FORD AEROSTAR WENT UP IN FLAMES WHILE PARKED AND SHUT OFF.
THE FIRE SPREAD TO A
LOCAL DAYCARE FORCING THE EVACUATION OF DOZENS
OF YOUNG CHILDREN, FORTUNATELY NONE OF THEM WAS HURT.
AT THAT TIME ITV LEARNED THE STEERING COLUMN FIRES BEGAN THREE YEARS AGO AND WE ALSO LEARNED OF INDEPENDENT ENGINEERING REPORTS SUGGESTING THE CAUSE OF THE FIRES COULD BE THE RESULT OF A MANUFACTURING DEFECT.
ALTHOUGH NOT READY TO
ADMIT FAULT FORD IS SAYING THE PROBLEM COULD BE IN THE
IGNITION SWITCH AND TODAY FELT COMPELLED TO DO SOMETHING.
((Even though were not pinpointing..of those vehicles.))
OWNERS OF THE RECALLED VEHICLES WILL BE NOTIFIED BY MAIL.
IT COMES TOO LATE FOR THE OWNER OF THIS 91 AEROSTAR VAN BUT HE'S GLAD SOMETHING IS FINALLY BEING DONE.
((I think it was long overdue and I'm glad Ford has seen the light to saving lives. I thank you guys for bringing this all too light.))
HE'S STILL HAVING HASSLES COLLECTING INSURANCE FOR HIS FIRE DAMAGED DAYCARE AND HIS VAN BUT HE THINKS THE RECALL WILL HELP.
AND THE INSURANCE BUREAU OF CANADA BELIEVES NOW THAT THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN EXPOSED OTHER FORD OWNERS WILL BE MORE VIGILANT.
(**SOT**) ((Insurance companies may not have been aware in the past. I think they will now review their files and maybe go back to Ford on those claims or situations they had and not previously contacted.))
((The recall could
go much deeper. We've had reports of Ford fires in other
Ford models as well. Like Tempos and vehicles made before 1988.))
((We have not pinpointed the cause and for that reason the investigation is certainly not complete.))
THERE'S A STRONG POSSIBLY OTHER FORD VEHICLES NOT MENTIONED TODAY COULD STILL BE RECALLED.
KEEP WATCHING ITV NEWS TO FIND OUT. MEANTIME FORD TELLS US IT QUIT USING THE SUSPECT IGNITION SWITCH THREE YEARS AGO SO NEWER VEHICLES ARE NOT LIKELY TO BE AFFECTED.
TONIGHT AT TEN JERRY BELIKA WILL CHECK WITH FORD DEALERS AND OWNERS TO TELL YOU HOW THE RECALL IS BEING HANDLED.
ONCE AGAIN, OUR VIEWERS WILL BE NOTIFIED BY FIRST CLASS MAIL IF THEY'RE AFFECTED.
(ROSS) THAT'S RIGHT. FORD TELLS US IT SHOULD TAKE ANOUT AHLF AN HOUR TO REPLACE THE SWITCH. WE COSTED IT OUT AND DISCOVERED A RECALL ON ALL 248 THOUSAND VEHICLES WOULD COST SOMEWHERE AROUND 25 MILLION DOLLARS.
(GORDON) THANKS ROSS. AND WE'VE JUST BEEN TOLD THAT CHRYSLER IS ALSO RECALLING SOME OF ITS BRAND NEW 1996 MINIVANS. THE AUTOMAKER SAYS IT'S FOUND DEFECTIVE BOLTS ON THE REAR SEATS THAT COULD CAUSE THEM TO COME LOOSE DURING A CRASH. NO ACCIDENTS OR INJURIES HAVE BEEN REPORTED YET.