NHTSA Complaint #10133258 — 1998 FORD EXPLORER

WE HAVE A 1998 FORD EXPLORER. ON JANUARY 25TH, 2005 O EXPLORER WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY & HAD BEEN THERE APPROXIMATELY 2 HOURS. CONSUMER'S WIFE HAD PUT CHIDREN IN THE CAR & NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE HOOD. WHEN SHE OPENED THE HOOD THERE WAS A FIRE NEAR THE BRAKE FLUID ASSEMBLY. FORTUNATELY SHE WAS ABLE TO GET CHILDREN OUT AND PUT OUT THE FIRE. HAD THE EXPLORER TOWED TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIRS. WHEN I ASKED THE DEALER WHAT COULD HAVE CAUSED A FIRE IN THE VEHICLE WHEN IT WAS NOT RUNNING THEY SEEMED TO HAVE NO IDEA & SAID THEY HAD NEVER HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM BEFORE. THE NEXT NIGHT WHILE WATCHING THE NEWS SAW THE RECALL FORD HAD FOR LATER MODEL VEHICLES DUE TO THE ENGINE CATCHING ON FIRE. ICONSUMER CALLED FORD, AND THEY TOLD HIM THISCAR DID NOT QUALIFY FOR THE RECALL SINCE IT WAS A 1998 EXLPLORER EVEN THOUGH THE PICTURES ON THE NEWS SHOWING WERE THE FIRE OCCURED LOOKED IDENTICAL TO THE ENGINE ON THIS VEHICLE. FORD DID NOT SEEM OVERLY CONCERNED & THE DEALER JUST TOLD ME TO KEEP RECIEPT IN CASE THEY CHANGED THEIR MIND ABOUT THE RECALL. I TOOK PICTURES OF MY ENGINE IF NEEDED. PRIOR TO THE FIRE MY CRUISE CONTROL STOPPED WORKING. REPAIR COST WAS OVER $700.00 PLUS RENTAL CAR FEE & TOWING EXPENSE. THE CRUISE CONTROL SWICTH, BRAKE FLUID ASSEMBLY, & HOOD INSULATION WERE REPLACED. DO NOT HAVE THE OLD PARTS.*AK