NHTSA Complaint #10125210 — 1999 FORD F-150

DT: FORD F150 1999. BEFORE THE FIRE, THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH FUSES STARTING ON 6/9/05. THERE WAS NO TURN SIGNAL. THE TURN SIGNALS RETURNED AFTER REPLACING THE FUSE/BRAKE LIGHTS, HAZARDS, OWNER THOUGHT IT WAS FUSE #23 OR 20. THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE SITTING IN THE DRIVEWAY. THE FIRE OCCURRED IN THE WIRES GOING INTO THE MASTER CYLINDER UNDER HOOD. THERE WAS A SMELL COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD THE SAME DAY OF FIRE AT ABOUT 12:30 AND THEN FIRE HAPPENED AT 6 PM. WHEN OUTSIDE OWNER SMELLED A STRONG ODOR LIKE SMOKE. THEN SMOKE CAME FROM UNDER HOOD. THE OWNER OPENED THE HOOD AND THERE WERE FLAMES ABOUT 6 INCHES HIGH COMING OUT. THE FIRE WAS PUT OUT BY HOSE AND THEN OWNER TRIED TO START VEHICLE. STARTED IT AND DIDN'T SMOKE, BUT THERE WAS A BLOWN FUSE THAT GOVERNED THE HAZARD LIGHTS, ETC. OWNER BELIEVED IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS NOT CALLED NOR POLICE. THERE WERE NO PICTURES WERE TAKEN. VEHICLE IS NOW AT THE LOCAL MECHANIC. ALSO, OWNER HAS CONTACTED LOCAL DEALERSHIP. THE OWNER WILL ATTEMPT TODAY TO CONTACT FORD. VEHICLE IS NOT A TOTAL LOSS, ONLY SOME OF THE WIRES WERE BURNT AND SOME MELTED IN CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH. OWNER IS AWARE THAT THERE IS AN INVESTIGATION. *AK *SC *JB