NHTSA Complaint #10154182 — 2000 FORD F-150

A VEHICLE FIRE OCCURRED ON A 2000 FORD F150 AT THE HOME OF THE OWNER ON MARCH 8, 2006. THE FIRE STARTED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT OF THE TRUCK WHILE IT WAS PARKED UNDER THE CARPORT, WITH THE ENGINE OFF, AND THE IGNITION KEY REMOVED. THE TRUCK HAD BEEN PARKED APPROXIMATELY 2 1/2 HOURS WHEN THE FIRE OCCURRED. WHEN THE FIRE WAS DETECTED, FLAMES HAD ALMOST REACHED THE CEILING OF THE CARPORT. THE OWNER WAS ABLE TO PUSH THE TRUCK INTO THE STREET, WHERE IT CONTINUED TO BURN UNTIL EXTINGUISHED BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. THE TRUCK WAS DESTROYED IN THE FIRE. ON MARCH 20, 2006, AND INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATOR INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND DETERMINED THAT THE FIRE WAS CAUSED BY FAILURE OF THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH. THE INVESTIGATOR DOCUMENTED HIS INVESTIGATION WITH PHOTOGRAPHS. FORD MOTOR COMPANY (FMC) STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN A RECALL TO CORRECT A PROBLEM WITH SPONTANEOUS FIRES ERUPTING IN THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH, BUT THE OWNER WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OF A RECALL. THE OWNER HAS CONTACTED AND PROVIDED INFORMATION AND PHOTOGRAPHS TO THE FMC SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH RECALL CUSTOMER INFORMATION TEAM, FMC CONSUMER AFFAIRS, AND THE LOCAL FMC DEALERSHIP. *NM