NHTSA Complaint #10142844 — 2002 FORD EXCURSION

IN JUNE OF 2003, A 2002 FORD EXCURSION LIMO SUFFERED A FIRE LOSS UNDER THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WITHOUT THE ENGINE RUNNING OR POWER SWITCHES ON. IT HAD NOT BEEN USED FOR SEVERAL HOURS. WHILE AN EMPLOYEE WAS IN THE PASSENGER AREA CLEANING THE LIMO, HE NOTICED THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. THE FIRE ORIGINATED ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. DAMAGE TO WIRING AND OTHER COMBUSTIBLES WAS EXTENSIVE. NO CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS DETERMINED. AFTER HEARING OF THE CRUISE CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH RECALL, I BELIEVE THE CASUSE OF THIS FIRE COULD HAVE BEEN THE SWITCH MALFUNCTION. I KNOW THE EXCUSIONS HAVE NOT BEEN INCLUDED IN THE RECALL, HOWEVER, SINCE THEY HAVE THE SAME SWITCH AND OPERATING CHARACTERISTICS, IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THE CAUSE WAS A SWITCH FAILURE. I HAVE ALSO HEARD OF ANOTHER EXCURSION IN OUR AREA HAVING A FIRE LOSS WITH SIMILIAR CONDITIONS. *NM