Derek of Omaha (8/3/04): I parked my roommate's 1998 Ford Explorer in the driveway. The car had been running perfectly fine. About five hours later, a neighbor rang the doorbell and when I looked outside, the Explorer was on fire! Fortunately I was able to put out the fire with a hose (probably a stupid idea to get near the car considering the battery exploded...let alone the fuel line housed in the engine compartment), the fire truck arrived and doused the car but it was already totaled.
The car is a total loss. The engine is completely fried, and the "security latch" that is supposed to undo the hood latch didn't work, so the firemen had to pry open the hood with a crowbar...mangling the hood. My roommate now has no vehicle.
Jack of Greensboro NC (1/29/05): On January 15th my wife had returned from a short trip from the grocery store in our 1999 Ford Expedition. She had been home for about 45 minutes when I noticed the smell of smoke. I looked out the door to the garage and saw flames coming out from under the hood near the windshield. I quickly took the keys and tried to crank it to get it out of the garage and away from the house. Fortunately it did crank and I was able to get down the driveway about 40 feet.
I tried to put the fire out with a fire extinquisher but it was too far along. The fire department arrived and put the fire out but the vehicle was a total loss. Back in the garage, I noticed a puddle of brake fluid from the hole burned into the master cylinder. I have no doubt that this fire was a result of the cruise control de-activation switch. Our cruise control had stopped working about 4 or 5 months ago. I called the Ford dealer where I purchased from and they had no idea what I was talking about.
Two days later Ford announces the recall which does not include any Expeditions but the 2000 model. I'm sure this problem is in all the early model Expeditions (1997 thru 2002). I feel very lucky that I caught mine in time to save my house and family.
Velma of Newport News VA (11/12/03): I was visting in Paulsboro because I evacuated for the hurricane that hit 9/2003. My Explorer caught a fire after sitting for 2 hours for no apparent reason. The fire department came and stood there and watched my truck burn because their fire cheif wasn't there. They didn't put out the fire until he arrived.
Christopher of Paisley FL (8/27/03): Smoke followed by electrical fire rising out from under center dash area of Explorer while underway. Fire and flames destroyed center computer screen, melted dash and caused extensive smoke damage to interior as well as cracked windshield from heat.
Driver and three minor passengers escaped vehicle that was filling with smoke. Smoke and flames severely damaged interior.
Mimi of Florence, KY, writes: On July 24, 2000 I was on my way to work at Northern Kentucky University where I have been employed for 11 years in my 1996 Ford Explorer. The Saturday before I had the front tires replaced at Sam's Club in Florence, Kentucky. They were Goodyear tires. I also had my oil changed every three months at QuikStop in Florence, Kentucky.
It was around 8:20 a.m. I noticed I was losing power because a semi truck was really pushing me. I pulled over to the side of the road. At this point, my truck had a little bit of smoke under the hood. I got out of the car and took my cellular phone. I called my office to let them know I would be late and also asked Shirley to call the local fire department.
Other people from NKU stopped to assist me, but while I was on the phone the Explorer was breaking into flames, starting from the driver's side underneath. The NKU photographer and his wife were on their way to work and stopped to help me. Joe Ruh had his camera and shot several photos of the fire. It was a major fire. The Explorer was destroyed.
When I called Airport Ford in Florence, Kentucky and spoke to Arlene, she stated that Sam's Club probably did something to my car on Saturday when the tires were changed. Since this was a leased vehicle Safeco paid off Huntington Bank and stated to me that the cause of the fire could not be determined. All the firefighters I have talked to tell me every fire has a starting point.
I would love to share my photos on the web so others driving Ford vehicles will not be hurt. If I had stayed in the vehicle I would be dead. No one wants to reimburse me for my new tires. Airport Ford has dropped me as a customer after eight years and three Ford vechicles. I am very disappointed in how I was treated.
I am very thankful I got out of the car but the next person might not be that lucky.
Gail of W. Monroe, LA: I left my 1994 Ford Explorer in the parking lot and when I came back it had burnt up. No warning--nothing seemed to be wrong.
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