NHTSA Complaint #10130431 — 2001 FORD F-150

DT: 2001 FORD F150 CREW CAB. ON 7-17-05 WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. ABOUT A WEEK BEFORE THIS THE CRUISE CONTROL WENT OUT. CONSUMER DID NOT HAVE A CHANCE TO GET THE DEALER TO LOOK AT IT. THE FIRE CHIEF SAID THAT THE FIRE HAD STARTED IN THE ELECTRICAL BOX AROUND THE CRUISE CONTROL AREA. THE FIRE CHIEF WROTE A REPORT. CONSUMER BELIEVED THAT THE FIRE CHIEF TURNED IT OVER TO THE POLICE. WHEN CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER THEY SAID SOMEONE WOULD GET BACK TO HIM. HE CALLED THEM AGAIN THEY SAID IT WOULD BE TURNED OVER TO CONSUMER AFFAIRS. THE NEXT TIME CONSUMER CALLED THEY TOLD HIM THAT THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT WAS HANDLING IT. ALSO, TOLD HIM LEGAL DEPARTMENT WOULD BE SENDING HIM SOME PAPERS TO FILL OUT WITHIN FIVE DAYS. IT HAS BEEN AT LEAST A WEEK SINCE THAT. ABOUT A YEAR AGO IT SMOKED AND MISSED A LITTLE. THE DEALERSHIP FOUND THAT THE VALVE GUIDES WERE BAD. AND THEY REPLACED THE HEADS. THERE HAD BEEN NO OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE UNTIL NOW. WHAT WAS LEFT OF THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AT CONSUMERS HOME. SOME OF CONSUMER'S YARD ITEMS WERE ALSO DAMAGED. THE DEALERSHIP THAT WORKED ON THE VEHICLE WAS STARKE FORD IN STARKE, FLORIDA. *AK *NM