NHTSA Complaint #10098648 — 2000 FORD F-150

OUR 2000 FORD F-150 HAD NOT HAD ANY PREVIOUS PROBLEMS. ONE MORNING IT WAS DRIVEN FOR ABOUT 40 MINUTES, THEN PARKED IN A LOT. WHILE IN THE LOT, IT CAUGHT FIRE (WITH NOT EVEN A KEY IN THE IGNITION). WE THINK IT HAD MAYBE BEEN PARKED AN HOUR BEFORE IT CAUGHT FIRE, BUT NOBODY KNOWS FOR SURE BECAUSE SOMEONE ELSE SPOTTED IT BURNING. FIRE INSPECTORS DETERMINED THAT THE FIRE STARTED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, AND THAT THERE WAS NO FOUL PLAY. THE FIRE APPEARED TO START TOWARDS THE FRONT, AND ON THE BATTERY SIDE. BY THE TIME SOMEONE NOTICED IT AND CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, MOST OF THE ENGINE AND HOOD AREA HAD PRETTY MUCH BEEN TORCHED. IT WAS PUT OUT BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND WE CONSIDERED IT A TOTAL LOSS. WE CONTACTED THE FORD DEALER WHERE THE CAR WAS PURCHASED, AND THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY. BOTH REPLIED THAT THEY WERE NOT RESPONSIBLE AND UNWILLING TO HELP IN ANY WAY. 8JB