NHTSA Complaint #10080470 — 2002 FORD EXPLORER

THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT FROM PARK TO DRIVE. IT TURNS OUT THAT THERE WAS AN ELECTRICAL SHORT CAUSING FUSES TO BLOW WHILE DRIVING. THE FUSE THAT HAD BLOWN MOST WAS THE FUSE FOR MY BRAKE LIGHTS. I WAS DRIVING WITHOUT BRAKE LIGHTS SEVERAL TIMES, UNKNOWINGLY. THE FIRST DEALERSHIP THAT I TOOK THE VEHICLE HAD THE TRUCK FOR 3 DAYS AND SAID THAT THE ALARM SYSTEM WAS CAUSING THE SHORT. THE ALARM SYSTEM WAS INSTALLED BY THE SELLING DEALERSHIP. I WAS SENT AWAY FROM THE DEALERSHIP WITH BIGGER (HIGHER AMP) FUSES IN MY FUSE BOX, A FEW EXTRA FUSES, AND THE KNOWLEDGE OF HOW TO OVER-RIDE THE SHIFTER LOCK IF THE FUSE WAS BLOWN. AFTER DRIVING THE VEHICLE FOR APPROXIMATELY TWO AND A HALF WEEKS, MOST OF THE TIME WITHOUT BRAKE LIGHTS, I WAS ABLE TO TAKE THE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP THAT I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE FROM. THIS DEALERSHIP HAPPENS TO BE ABOUT 90 MILES FROM MY CURRENT RESIDENCE. THE OTHER DEALERSHIP FOUND THE REAL PROBLEM. THE WIRING HARNESS HAD TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE APPARENTLY, SOME OF THE WIRES GOT TOO HOT, MELTED THE INSULATION, AND FUSED THEMSELVES TOGETHER. THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE SHOP FOR 9 DAYS. FORD ALSO CLAIMS THAT I SHOULDN'T WORRY ABOUT ANY DAMAGE THAT MAY HAVE BEEN DONE TO THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS IN MY VEHICLE DUE TO THE SHORT AND ONE OF THE DEALERSHIPS PUTTING BIGGER FUSES IN THE FUSE BOX. *JB