NHTSA Complaint #10108229 — 1999 FORD EXPEDITION

ON JANUARY 15TH, 2005 MY WIFE HAD RETURNED FROM A SHORT TRIP FROM THE GROCERY STORE IN OUR 1999 FORD EXPEDITION AROUND 9:30PM. SHE HAD BEEN HOME ABOUT 45 MINUTES WHEN I NOTICED THE SMELL OF SMOKE. I LOOKED OUT THE DOOR TO THE GARAGE AND SAW FLAMES COMING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD NEAR THE WINDSHIELD. I QUICKLY TOOK THE KEYS AND TRIED TO CRANK IT TO GET IT OUT OF THE GARAGE AND AWAY FROM THE HOUSE. FORTUNATELY IT DID CRANK. AFTER I ATTEMPTED TO PUT THE FIRE OUT WITH A FIRE EXTINQUISHER THE LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT PUT OUT THE FIRE. THE CAR WAS DECLARED A TOTAL LOSS BY MY INSURANCE COMPANY A COUPLE DAYS LATER. I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT THIS FIRE WAS CAUSED BY A FAULTY CRUISE-CONTROL DE-SELECTOR SWITCH. THE CRUISE-CONTROL HAD STOPPED WORKING ABOUT 4 OR 5 MONTHS AGO. AFTER THE FIRE I NOTICED A PUDDLE OF FLUID ON OUR GARAGE FLOOR. I NOW KNOW THAT WAS BRAKE FLUID FROM THE MASTER CYLINDER. I CALLED MONTGOMERY MOTORS SERVICE DEPARTMENT ON TUESDAY JANUARY 25TH AND THEY SAID THEY HAD NEVER HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM WITH EXPEDITIONS. TWO DAYS LATER FORD ANNOUNCES A RECALL ON CERTAIN YEAR MODEL EXPEDITIONS (NOT 1999). I'M UPSET THAT FORD KNEW OF THIS PROBLEM AND DID NOTHING ABOUT UNTIL THERE WERE OVER 63 FIRES (NOT COUNTING THIS ONE). AND NOW THEY ARE ONLY RECALLING A FEW YEAR MODELS WHEN IT IS OBVIOUS THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH 1997 THRU 2002 MODELS. I WAS VERY FORTUNATE THAT MY HOME AND FAMILY WAS NOT BURNED UP IN THIS FIRE. SOME OTHER FAMILIES MAY NOT BE AS LUCKY. THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS DANGEROUS PROBLEM. *AK