NHTSA Complaint #10107721 — 1995 FORD EXPLORER

AFTER OPERATING THE HEATER A FIRE OCCURRED UNDER THE HOOD. IT BURNED THE PLASTIC CASE AROUND THE HEATER CORE AREA. I WAS ABLE TO PUT OUT THE FIRE WITH A FIRE EXTINGUISHER. I CONTACTED THE LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT NO RECALLS HAD BEEN ISSUED ON MY VEHICLE (1995 FORD EXPLORER VIN# [XXX]). THE SERVICE TECH AT THE DEALERSHIP SAID THAT THE HEATER CORE COULD NOT HAVE CAUSED THE FIRE AND THAT PERHAPS A MOUSE HAD BUILT A NEST INSIDE AND THAT COULD HAVE BEEN THE CAUSE. HE DID NOT MENTION ANY SERVICE BULLETINS REGARDING ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS IN THE DASH,A/C/,HEATER AREA THAT I LATER FOUND ON THE INTERNET. HE SUGGESTED I BRING THE CAR IN FOR REPAIR. NEEDLESS TO SAY I AM NOT TAKING IT TO THE DEALERSHIP. I DO HAVE AN APPOINTMENT FOR MONDAY (1/24/05) AT A REPAIR SHOP. I WILL KNOW MORE ABOUT COSTS TO REPAIR AND THE EXTENT OF THE DAMAGE THEN. I FEAR DRIVING THE CAR KNOWING IT COULD CATCH FIRE AGAIN AND AM USING A LOANER CAR FROM A FRIEND AT WORK.*JB UPDATED 07/24/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)