NHTSA Complaint #10164423 — 1998 FORD EXPLORER

FORD EXPLORER 1998 DATE 8-3-06 I'VE HAD THIS CAR FOR THREE YEARS. I'VE NEVER HAD ANY MAJOR OR MINOR PROBLEMS. I HAVE REGULAR REQUIRED MAINTENANCE DONE (EXAMPLE) FLUID CHANGES AND BRAKES. EARLY FEBRUARY. I NOTICED AROUND NOVEMBER 2005, MY CRUISE CONTROL STOPPED WORKING. I DIDN'T TAKE IT TO BE CHECKED; I DIDN'T THINK IT WAS A BIG ISSUE. I NOTICED WHEN STARTING MY CAR, THE BATTERY SOUNDED WEAK. I TOOK THE CAR TO NTB TO HAVE THE BATTERY CHECKED. THE BATTERY WAS BAD AND WAS REPLACED WITH THE EXIDE 72 MONTH BATTERY. I HAD NEVER THE BATTERY REPLACED. NTB INSTALLED THE NEW BATTERY ON FEBRUARY 5, 2006. I DRIVE THIS CAR TO AND FROM WORK REGULARLY, ABOUT 12 MILES. ON FEBRUARY 28, 2006, LEAVING WORK HEADING HOME, I STOPPED AT THE GROCERY STORE ABOUT 1 MILE FROM MY HOUSE. I LEFT THE STORE AND WENT HOME. AFTER TURNING THE ENGINE OFF APPROXIMATELY 5 MINUTES LATER STANDING ON MY PORCH, I NOTICED HEAVY WHITE SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER MY HOOD BEHIND THE BATTERY AREA. I RAN TO MY CAR AND OPEN THE DOOR AND RELEASED THE HOOD. WHEN I RAISED THE HOOD, I SAW THE HEAVY SMOKE COMING FROM WHAT APPEARED TO BE NEAR ARE IN FRONT OF THE WIRING IN FRONT OF THE MASTER CYLINDER. I RAN IN THE HOUSE TO CALL 911 AND GET A FIRE EXTINGUISHER. WHEN I WENT BACK TO THE CAR UNDER HOOD AREA WAS FULLY INVOLVED IN FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. AFTER HEARING AND READING THE REPORTS ABOUT THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH, I REALLY THINK THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED TO MY VEHICLE. *JB