NHTSA Complaint #10016982 — 1997 FORD F-150

MY 1997 FORD F-150 4X4 SPONTANEOUSLY BURST INTO FLAMES FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AFTER HAVING BEEN PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY FOR 12 HOURS OVER NIGHT. THE ENGINE HAD NOT BEEN RUN, WAS NOT HOT, AND HAD NO MALFUNCTIONING PARTS TO MY KNOWLEDGE. I WAS AWAKENED FRIDAY MORNING BY A JOGGER BEATING ON MY FRONT DOOR SCREAMING THAT MY TRUCK WAS ON FIRE. IT BURNED THE ENGINE COMPLETELY, DESTROYED THE HOOD, CAB, AND THE ENTIRE OF THE FRONT END OF THE TRUCK BEFORE IT COULD BE PUT OUT BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. THE LOCAL FIRE MARSHAL AND ARSON INVESTIGATOR INVESTIGATED THE FIRE AND FOUND NO SIGNS OF MALFUNCTIONS. *JB PARKED THE VEHICLE AT 6:00 PM AT AROUND 6:00 AM THE NEXT MORNING THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRE WAS COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE FIRE SEEMED TO BE HOTTEST ON THE DRIVERS SIDE OF VEHICLE. THE TIRE ON THE DRIVERS SIDE WAS TOTALLY MELTED. THE TIRE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE DID NOT FAIL. SHORTLY BEFORE THE FIRE THE CRUISE CONTROL STOPPED WORKING. ONCE IN A WHILE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD COME ON. AT ONE POINT AN INTERLOCK SWITCH ON THE VEHICLE BRAKE PEDAL WAS REPLACED BECAUSE COULD NOT GET THE VEHCILE OUT OF PARK. WILL E-MAIL PICTURES TO BRUCE YORK. ONLY AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT WAS A STEREO PROFESSIONALY INSTALLED. THE VEHICLE ONLY HAD LIABILTY INSURANCE.