NHTSA Complaint #10152447 — 1998 FORD MOUNTAINEER

MY 1998 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER WAS HAVING A SLOW START FOR THE PAST MONTH. A FEW TIMES THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START, SOUNDING AS IF THE BATTERY WAS DEAD. IT WAS HAPPENING DURING THE COLD WEATHER SO WE ATTRIBUTED THESE SYMPTOMS TO THE COLD. WE HAD BATTERY CHECKED AND IT WAS FINE. ON MARCH 9,2006 WHILE MY VEHICLE WAS SITTING IN MY DRIVEWAY IT CAUGHT FIRE. THANKS TO SOME FAST RESPONDING NEIGHBORS THERE WAS NO FIRE DAMAGE TO MY HOUSE. THE FIRE WAS MAINLY NEAR THE SOLENOID OR THE STARTER AND EVERYTHING IS COMPLETELY FIRE DAMAGED. I READ THAT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS MAKE/MODEL DUE TO THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH WHICH WE WERE ALSO EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS. WHAT CAN WE DO? *NM