WHILE DRIVING MY VEHICLE I NOTICED SOME SMOKE COMING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I STARTED TO PULL OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHEN THE ENTIRE ENGINE COMPARTMENT BURST INTO FLAMES. I GOT PULLED OVER AS QUICK AS POSSIBLE AND OPENED THE HOOD WHERE I NOTICED THE ENGINE WAS COMPLETELY ON FIRE. I TRIED TO PUT OUT THE FIRE WITH A FIRE EX…
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WHILE DRIVING MY VEHICLE I NOTICED SOME SMOKE COMING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I STARTED TO PULL OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHEN THE ENTIRE ENGINE COMPARTMENT BURST INTO FLAMES. I GOT PULLED OVER AS QUICK AS POSSIBLE AND OPENED THE HOOD WHERE I NOTICED THE ENGINE WAS COMPLETELY ON FIRE. I TRIED TO PUT OUT THE FIRE WITH A FIRE EXTINGUISHER, BUT THE FIRE WAS BURING TOO HOT FOR ME TO GET CLOSE, THE FIRE DEPT ARRIVED IN LESS THAN 5 MINUTES AND PROCEEDED TO PUT OUT THE FIRE, AT WHICH TIME IT WAS TOO LATE, THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY BURNED UP. I ONLY HAD THIS VEHICLE FOR LESS THEN 4 MONTHS AND HAD NO WORK DONE TO IT AT ALL AND IT JUST BLEW UP ON ME. I JUST GOT OUT OF THE CAR IN TIME BEFORE BEING SEVERELY BURNED MYSELF. I DID PURCHASE A 3YR/36,000 MILE WARRANTY FROM THE SELLING DEALER AT TIME OF PURCHASE WHIHC WAS SUPPOSE TO BE A BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY. THIS VEHICLE WAS IN EXCEPTIONAL CONDITION, HENSE THE REASON I PURCHASED IT. I DON'T KNOW WHAT I AM GOING TO DO FROM HERE, BUT I NOW FIND MYSELF WITHOUT A VEHICLE AND THANKFULLY WITHOUT ANY PHYSICAL INJURY, THIS INCIDENT COULD HAVE POSSIBLY KILLED ME AND THIS MATTER SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED SO THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN TO ANYONE ELSE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #719174
Mileage unknown · Aug 1, 1999
Electrical System
I HAVE A MAJOR SHORT SOMEWHERE. I HAVE TO LEAVE THE DRIVERS DOOR OPEN IN ORDER TO GET THE CAR STARTED. IF THE DOOR IS SHUT IT WILL NOT IDLE. THIS HAS ALSO HAPPENED GOING DOWN THE ROAD AND IT WILL JUST DIE. (LEAVING YOU IN A DANGEROUS SITUATION) CANNOT FIND ANYONE TO TELL US WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. I AM WONDERING IF I BOUGHT A LEM…
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I HAVE A MAJOR SHORT SOMEWHERE. I HAVE TO LEAVE THE DRIVERS DOOR OPEN IN ORDER TO GET THE CAR STARTED. IF THE DOOR IS SHUT IT WILL NOT IDLE. THIS HAS ALSO HAPPENED GOING DOWN THE ROAD AND IT WILL JUST DIE. (LEAVING YOU IN A DANGEROUS SITUATION) CANNOT FIND ANYONE TO TELL US WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. I AM WONDERING IF I BOUGHT A LEMMON.
NHTSA ODI #709465
Mileage unknown · May 18, 1999
Electrical System
HEADLIGHTS INITIALLY FAILED TO COME ON, THEN CAME ON WHEN DIMMER SWITCH WAS ACTIVATED, THEN FAILED WHEN VEHICLE HIT BUMPS ON ROAD, THEN AGAIN WHEN TURN SIGNALS WERE USED.
NHTSA ODI #706638
Mileage unknown · Apr 15, 1999
Electrical SystemFire
CONSUMER STARTED THE TRUCK UP, BUT IT WOULDN'T START. HE NOTICED SMOKE CMMING FROM UNDER NEATH THE HOOD. *AK
WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH WENT TO APPLY FOR THE BRAKES ON WET PAVEMENT AND BRAKES DIDN'T WORK. CONSUMER HIT A TREE. PULLING THE VEHICLE FROM THE TREE THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #830725
Mileage unknown · Jun 23, 1998
Electrical SystemFire
ELECTRICAL FIRE FROM THE INTERIOR SYSTEMS CONSOLE.
NHTSA ODI #537022
Mileage unknown · Apr 11, 1998
Electrical SystemFire
ELECTRICAL FIRE BROKE OUT IN CENTER CONSOLE WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED.
NHTSA ODI #534183
Mileage unknown · Oct 27, 1997
Electrical System
IGNITION SWITCH SHORTED OUT.
NHTSA ODI #605325
Mileage unknown · Oct 27, 1997
Electrical SystemStructureVisibility
WINDOW FAILED.
NHTSA ODI #604501
Mileage unknown · Sep 19, 1997
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingSeat Belts
FORD IS RECALLING MODEL YEARS 1995-2003 WINDSTAR, 2000-2003 EXCURSION DIESEL, 1993-1997 AND 1999-2003 F-250 SD THROUGH F-550 SD DIESEL, 1992-2003 E-150 THROUGH E-550, 1995-2002 EXPLORER, 1997 AND 2002 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER, 1995-1997 AND 2001-2003 RANGER, AND 1994 F53 VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE TEXAS INSTRUMENTS SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH (SCDS). THE SCDS MAY LEAK INTERNALLY AND THEN OVERHEAT, SMOKE, OR BURN.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A VEHICLE FIRE COULD OCCUR WITH OR WITHOUT THE ENGINE RUNNING.
Remedy: FORD WILL NOTIFY OWNERS THAT DEALERS WILL INSTALL A FUSED WIRING HARNESS IN LINE WITH THE SCDS. ON 1999-2003 WINDSTAR VEHICLES WITH A LEAKING SCDS, DEALERS WILL ALSO INSPECT THE ABS CONTROL MODULE CONNECTOR AND REPAIR AS NECESSARY. REPAIRS WILL BE COMPLETED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 27, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-888-222-2751.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MULTI-PURPOSE PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE LIFTGATE ASSIST GAS CYLINDER BRACKET ON THE RIGHT HAND BODYSIDE OUTER PANEL WAS INCORRECTLY WELDED.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE GAS CYLINDER BRACKET MAY NOT PROPERLY SUPPORT THE LIFTGATE INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REINFORCE THE BRACKET ATTACHMENT WITH TWO POP RIVETS.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MULTI-PURPOSE PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 5.0L ENGINES ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF ALASKA, IDAHO, IOWA, MAINE, MICHIGAN (UPPER PENINSULA ONLY), MINNESOTA, MONTANA, NEBRASKA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW YORK, NORTH DAKOTA, SOUTH DAKOTA, VERMONT, WISCONSIN, AND WYOMING. THESE VEHICLES, WHEN OPERATED FOR EXTENDED PERIODS OF TIME AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND TEMPERATURES BELOW -20 DEGREES FARENHEIT, DO NOT RETURN TO IDLE DUE TO ICE IN THE THROTTLE BODY.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE CAN BE CONTROLLED BY EITHER APPLYING THE SERVICE BRAKES OR SHIFTING THE TRANSMISSION TO NEUTRAL, INCREASED BRAKE PEDAL EFFORTS OR SOME INCREASE IN STOPPING DISTANCE CAN RESULT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A REVISED PCV SYSTEM WITH WATER HEATED VACUUM SOURCE.
THE CERTIFICATION LABELS ON THE INVOLVED VEHICLES HAS INCORRECT REAR TIRE INFLATION PRESSURE DESIGNATIONS. THIS DOES NOT COMPLY WITH FMVSS NO. 120, "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS FOR MOTOR VEHICLES OTHER THAN PASSENGER CARS."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: INCORRECT INFLATION PRESSURES COULD CAUSE PREMATURE WEAR OF THE REAR TIRES. .
Remedy: OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH CORRECT CERTIFICATION LABELS AND INSTRUCTIONS FOR INSTALLING THESE LABELS. DEALERS CAN INSTALL THIS LABEL IF THE OWNER SO DESIRES.
WHEN IN THE SECONDARY LATCHED POSITION, THE DRIVER DOOR LATCHES MAY OPEN WHEN SUBJECTED TO TRANSVERSE LOADS LESS THAN THAT SPECIFIED IN FMVSS NO. 206, "DOOR LOCKS AND DOOR RETENTION COMPONENTS."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE DRIVER'S DOOR, WHEN CLOSED ONLY TO THE SECONDARY LATCHED POSITION, MAY NOT SUSTAIN A 1,000 POUND TRANSVERSE LOAD.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE DRIVER DOOR LATCH.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
3
PE00039 · Front Suspension Stabilizer Bar Link
Opened Sep 20, 2000 · Closed Nov 30, 2000
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Suspension
There is no summary currently available
PE99068 · Accelerator Pedal
Opened Nov 1, 1999 · Closed Mar 9, 2000
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Power Train
There is no summary currently available
PE97010 · Electrical Fire In Center Console
Opened Mar 13, 1997 · Closed Sep 4, 1997
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System
THIS INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT CONSOLE FIRES IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES MOST OFTEN OCCURRED WHILE VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE LAMP OUTAGE MODULE (LOM), WHICH IS PART OF THE MESSAGE CENTER, WERE TOWING A TRAILER AND WHICH HAD BEEN MODIFIED BY ADDING AN AFTERMARKET TRAILER WIRING HARNESS INTO THE VEHICLE'S TAILLIGHT CIRCUITS.THE OWNER'S MANUAL STATES NEVER AND MORE THAN OTHER TRAILER LIGHT BULB TO ONE CIRCUIT HOWEVER TRAILERS FREQUENTLY CONTAIN SEVERAL BULBS.THE RESULTING EXCESS CURRENT PASSING THROUGH THE LOM COULD CAUSE IT TO OVERHEAT RESULTING IN A FIRE.PROPER AFTERMARKET INSTALLATION OF TRAILER WIRING REQUIRES THE USE OF A BYPASS MODULE, WHICH OBTAINS POWER FOR THE TRAILER LIGHTS DIRECTLY FROM THE BATTERY RATHER THAN FROM THE VEHICLE'S TAIL LIGHT AND STOP LAMP CIRCUITS, OR THE USE OF THE MANUFACTURER'S WIRING HARNESS.IN A LETTER DATED SEPTEMBER 2, 1997, FORD NOTIFIED ODI THAT IT INTENDS TO TAKE ACTION TO PRECLUDE FURTHER INCIDENTS INCLUDING ISSUING A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN TO ITS DEALERS, NOTIFYING TRAILER RENTAL ASSOCIATIONS AND AGENCIES WHERE KNOWN, AND ADVISING OWNERS BY LETTER OF THE PROPER METHOD FOR CONNECTION OF TRAILER TOW WIRING ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.THERE WAS NO DEFECT TREND IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES IDENTIFIED AS A RESULT OF THIS INVESTIGATION, AND FURTHER EXPENDITURE OF AGENCY RESOURCES IS NOT WARRANTED TO CONTINUE THE INVESTIGATION.
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