NHTSA Complaint #10130574 — 1996 FORD F-150

DT: 1996, FORD F150 PICKUP TRUCK CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE PARKED OUTSIDE OF THE GARAGE AND THE ENGINE WAS NOT RUNNING. THE TRUCK HAD NOT BEEN DRIVEN FOR AT LEAST 2 HOURS PRIOR. THE LAST TIME IT DRIVEN WAS ON SHORT TRIP TO A LOCAL GAS STATION IN WHICH THE FUEL TANK WAS FILLED UP. CONSUMER WAS NOTIFIED BY A PASSING DRIVER, WHO WAS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND KNOCKED ON THE DOOR TO ALERT THEM, THAT TRUCK PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY ON FIRE. CONSUMER'S HUSBAND AND THE PASSER BY TRIED TO PUT OUT THE FIRE WITH A WATER HOSE AND FIRE EXTINGUISHERS. HOWEVER, THEY WERE UNSUCCESSFUL. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME AND PUT THE FIRE OUT. THE FIRE BEGAN ON THE LEFT FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE NEAR STEERING WHEEL. THE FIREMEN NOTED IT SMELLED ELECTRICAL IN NATURE, AND THAT THE HEAT FROM FIRE WAS MOST EXTENSIVE AND CONTAINED IN HEAT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. THE CAB WAS BURNED EXTENSIVELY. THE BED WAS INTACT, AND NO FIRE WAS ABLE TO REACH TO THE GASOLINE TANKS. THE HEAT FROM FIRE WAS SO EXTENSIVE THAT LEFT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE MELTED AS WELL AS THE INTERIOR. CONSUMER SPOKE TO FORD ON 4 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS , WHO PROMISED THAT SOMEONE WILL CONTACT CONSUMER THROUGH THEIR LEGAL DEPARTMENT AND SOMEONE MAY COME OUT AND LOOK INTO THE CAUSES OF THE FIRE AND DAMAGES. BUT THIS HAS YET TO HAPPEN. NO REPAIRS WERE DONE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. . THERE WAS ONLY 68,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. *AK