NHTSA Complaint #10132788 — 2002 FORD EXPLORER

I HAD JUST LEFT WORK WITH MY MOTHER AND NOTICED A SMELL OF BURNING RUBBER OR WIRES. WE DROVE FOR APPROX. 4 BLOCKS STILL SMELLING THIS. WE ROLLED DOWN THE WINDOWS THINKING IT WAS COMING FROM OUTSIDE. I EVEN TURNED OFF MY AIR CONDITIONING THINKING IT WAS PULLING THE ODOR IN FROM OUTSIDE. WE THEN DECIDED WE SHOULD TURN AROUND AND GO BACK TO MY PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT AND HAVE THE MECHANICS CHECK IT OUT. I TURNED THE CORNER AND SMOKE STARTING COMING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. WE THEN PULLED OVER TO CALL OUR WRECKER. THE SMOKE GOT WORSE, SO WE GOT OUT OF THE VEHICLE AND MOVED AWAY. WE THEN CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. AFTER ABOUT 5 MINUTES FLAMES STARTED COMING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THEN, THERE WAS A SMALL EXPLOSION AND THERE WAS A HOLE BLOWN IN THE CENTER OF THE HOOD CLOSE TO THE WINDSHIELD. THE FLAMES WERE THEN SHOOTING ABOUT 6 TO 8 FT IN THE AIR. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED AND PUT THE FIRE OUT. WE HAVE NOT YET HEARD IF IT IS A TOTAL LOSS, BUT I'M SURE IT IS. *NM