NHTSA Complaint #10082413 — 2002 FORD ESCAPE

2002 FORD ESCAPE WAS PARKED IN DRIVEWAY AT MY RESIDENCE FOLLOWING RETURNING RENTLA MOVIES AT APPROXIMATELY 11:30 PM ON 6/30/2004. AT APPROXIMATELY 6:00 AM ON 7/1/2004, I WAS AWAKENED BY THE CAR ALARM. LOOKING AT THE CAR FROM THE BALCONY OUTSIDE THE BEDROOM WINDOW, I COULD SEE THICK DARK SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I TOOK THE CAR KEYS AND MANUALLY UNLOCKED THE VEHICLE TO GET THE HOOD RELEASE. AS SOON AS THE DOOR WAS UNLOCKED, THE ALARM SILENCED. I THEN OPENED THE HOOD AND AS SOON AS I DID THE WIRING HARNESS ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE FIREWALL BURST INTO FLAME. I RAN INTO THE GARAGE AND GOT A FIRE EXTINGUISHER AND PUT OUT THE FIRE. AFTER THE FIRE WAS OUT, I COULD HEAR A STRONG ELECTRICAL HUM. AT THAT POINT I WENT BACK THE GARAGE AND GOT TOOLS TO REMOVE THE POSITIVE BATTERY TERMINAL. AS SOON AS TERMINAL WAS REMOVED THE SOUND CEASED. THE CAR WAS LATER TOWED TO STEPP BROTHERS LINCOLN MERCURY WHERE IT REMAINS AS OF TODAY. STEPP BROTHER HAS ORDERED A NEW WIRING HARNESS IN ORDER TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM AND IT IS STILL ON BACK ORDER. *JB PHONE INTERVIEW UPDATE (NOV. 7, 05) FORD DID THE REPAIR UNDER WARRANTY AND KEPT THE OLD PARTS; THEY SAID THE FIRE WAS DUE TO AN ABS SENSOR SHORTED OUT. MR. EVERMON ALSO SAID THAT HE HAD TO FILL THE MASTER CYLINDER THREE TIMES SINCE HE PURCHSED THE VEHICLE.