NHTSA Complaint #10158590 — 2000 FORD EXCURSION

ON 26JAN06 I TOOK MY 2000 FORD EXCURSION LIMITED EDITION TO EDDIE YALKLIN FORD DEALERSHIP IN KINGSVILLE TEXAS FOR A SAFETY INSPECTION OF MY SUV DUE TO THE FACT THAT I HAD A FIRE AND SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD OF THE EXCURSION AFTER A TRIP. WHEN I TOOK THE EXCURSION AND THEY INSPECTED IT THEY COULD SEE WHERE THE FIRE HAD STARTED, IT WAS COMING FROM A SWITCH THAT IS LOCATED ON THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER BODY AREA. I TOLD THEM THAT THE ONLY WAY I WAS ABLE TO STOP THE SMOKE AND FIRE FROM STARTING WAS TO DISCONNECT THE ELECTRIC WIRE CONNECTOR WHICH WAS FROM THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH FROM THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER SYSTEM. AFTER GOING OVER ALL THIS WITH THE SERVICE REP. THEY TOLD ME THAT THIS WAS NOT A PROBLEM AND THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS AT THIS TIME. WELL I TOLD HIM THAT I KNEW ABOUT THE OTHER FORD TRUCKS AND SUV THAT HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AND SOME DID HURT PEOPLE BECAUSE THE CARS CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE GARAGE AND WELL YOU KNOW WHERE IM GOING WITH THIS AND THE SERVICE REP. SAID THAT THEY WOULD BE REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE PARTS BUT THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY. I TOLD THEM NO THAT WHY SHOULD I PAY FOR SOMETHING THAT IS A SAFETY DEFECT FROM FORD AND I WAS NOT GOING TO PAY FOR THAT. I EXPLAINED TO THE SERVICE REP. THAT NOW THE BRAKE FLUID WAS LEAKING OUT ALSO AND THAT IF I LOOSE MY BRAKES WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN. THEY JUST ACTED LIKE IT WAS NO BIG DEAL AND SAID THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY TO GET IT FIXED. THIS IS AS WE ALL KNOW A SAFETY HAZARD AND FORD KNOWS ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND KNOWS HOW FIRES HAVE KILLED PEOPLE AND HURT MANY OF THEM AND I DON'T WANT TO BE A VICTIM. *NM