NHTSA Complaint #10142323 — 1995 FORD EXPLORER

I HAVE EXPERIENCED AN UNDER THE HOOD FIRE ON MY 1995 FORD EXPLORER WHICH I BELIEVE WAS CAUSED BY A FAULTY SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH. MY VEHICLE HAD BEGUN TO EXHIBIT SYMPTOMS WHICH HAVE BEEN DESCRIBED IN RELATION TO RECALL CAMPAIGN NUMBER 05V388000. SPECIFICALLY, THE CRUISE CONTROL HAD STOPPED FUNCTIONING, BRAKE FLUID WAS LEAKING AROUND THE SWITCH AND MY VEHICLE HAD STARTED BLOWING FUSES. ON OCTOBER 29TH MY FIANCE DROVE THE VEHICLE TO WORK. SHORTLY AFTER HAVING ARRIVED AT WORK, SOMEONE INTERRUPTED A MEETING SHE WAS HAVING WITH HER SUPERVISOR TO INFORM HER THAT HER VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. THE FIRE WAS QUICKLY EXTINGUISHED AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT A TOTAL LOSS. IN FACT, THE DAMAGE LOOKS RELATIVELY MINOR TO ME. HOWEVER THE LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP HAS GIVEN ME AN ESTIMATE FOR REPAIRS IN THE AMOUNT OF $12860.02. I HAVE RESEARCHED AND DETERMINED THAT THE SWITCH FOR MY EXPLORER IS THE EXACT SAME SWITCH AS IS USED ON THE 1995 FORD F-150, WHICH IS THE SUBJECT OF A RECALL FOR THIS VERY ISSUE. THE PART NUMBER IN QUESTION FOR THE EXPLORER IS F3TZ9F924BB. THE PART NUMBER FOR THE F-150 IS F3TZ9F924B. A PARTS SALES PERSON AT THE FORD DEALERSHIP HAS INFORMED ME THAT THESE PARTS ARE IDENTICAL AND HAS FAXED ME INFORMATION TO PROVE THIS. I ALSO HAVE VERY GOOD PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE DAMAGE, AS WELL AS THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TOUCHED SINCE THE FIRE OTHER THAN TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. I BELIEVE THE ESTIMATE FOR REPAIRS IS BASED ON A VISUAL INSPECTION. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED, SO THERE MAY BE AN OFFICIAL REPORT AVAILABLE. *NM