NHTSA Complaint #10126835 — 2003 FORD F-250

DT: AT 9 PM VEHICLE PARKED VEHICLE IN DRIVEWAY AND IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. VEHICLE HAD SAT FOR ABOUT 10 HOURS. VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES BEFORE IT WAS PARKED. THERE WERE NO INDICATIONS FROM MECHANICS UPON REGULAR INSPECTION THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM. NO PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE BEFORE AND NO MODIFICATIONS. A NEIGHBOR KNOCKED ON CONSUMER'S DOOR AND ADVISED HIM THAT THERE WERE FLAMES COMING FROM THE DASHBOARD AND THE HOOD AS WELL. BY THE TIME FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED THE WINDOWS WERE GONE, INSIDE DESTROYED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, CUT THE BATTERY CABLES, AND THEN SHOWED THE OWNER THAT BATTERY POST WAS ABLE TO TURN 360 DEGREES, WHICH MEANT THE POST WAS LOOSE. ALSO, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORTED THAT IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL FIRE. OWNER CONTACTED THE DEALER, WHO WAS UNCONCERNED, AND TOLD THE OWNER TO CALL INSURANCE COMPANY. OWNER WILL CALL FORD TODAY. THE POLICE DID NOT DO A REPORT. *AK