NHTSA Complaint #10086586 — 1996 FORD F-150

MY WIFE CAME HOME FROM WORK, WAS TALKING ON THE PHONE AND NOTICE SMOKE DRIFING BY THE SLIDING GLASS WINDOWS. SHE WENT OUT ONTO THE BACK DECK AND SAW THAT THE 1996 FORD F-150 (4-WHEEL DRIVE) WAS ON FIRE UNDER THE HOOD. (AUGUST 9, 2004) THE TRUCK WAS PARKED AT THE BASEMENT LEVEL ON OUR HOUSE. SHE HEARD THE TRUCK REPEATLY TRYING TO START AS IF SOMEONE WAS IN SIDE, SHE THOUGHT THAT I HAD COME HOME AND SAW THE FIRE AND WAS TRYING TO MOVE IT AWAY FROM OUR HOUSE. SHE CALL 911. THE FRONT OF THE HOOD WAS COMPLETELY ENGULFED IN FLAMES. SHE WENT TO THE BEDROOM WINDOW TO SEE IF I HAD PULLED UP BUT I HAD NOT ARRIVED HOME YET. SHE WENT BACK OUT OF THE DECK AND THE TRUCK WAS STILL TRYING TO START. THE FIRE HAD BROKE THE FRONT WINDSHIELD AND HAD MELTED THE TIRES. OUR SONS TRUCK WAS PARKED BESIDE IT. HE HAD DAMAGE TO THE HEADLAMPS, FRONT HOOD AND REAR VIEW MIRROR OF HIS TRUCK. THE VINYL SIDING WHICH WAS ON THE SECOND LEVEL OF OUR HOUSE HAD MELTED.WE HAD DRIVEN THE TRUCK ON SUNDAY AUGUST 8TH TO GET GROCERY. THE TRUCK HAD NOT BEEN DRIVEN SINCE THEN.THE VEHICLE HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN PARKED IN MY MOTHER-IN-LAWS CARPORT. SHE IS 79 YEARS OLD AND IS WIDOWED, HAS SLIGHT DEMENTIA AND LIVES ALONE AND IS NO LONGER ABLE TO DRIVE. IF THIS HAD OCCURRED IN HER CARPORT, HER HOUSE WOULD HAVE CAUGHT FIRE, WITH HER INSIDE.WE LIVE NEXT TO HER AND SHE WANTED TO KEEP THE TRUCK AT HOUSE BECAUSE SHE LIVES ON THE HIGHWAY.THE TRUCK HAD RECENTLY BEEN PAID OFF AND INSURANCE WAS DROPPED TO LIABILITY, SINCE IT WAS SELDOM EVER DRIVEN. THE TRUCK IS A TOTAL LOSS. LUCKILY NO ONE WAS HURT. I AM VERY INTERESTED IN FINDING OUT WHAT CAUSE THIS FIRE. WE HAVE TWO OTHER FORD VEHICLES. A 1996 FORD EXPLORER AND 1994 FORD THUNDERBIRD. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF DRIVING THESE VEHICLES.