NHTSA Complaint #10172196 — 2006 FORD EXPEDITION

VEHICLE HAD BEEN DISPLAYING THE LOW AIR PRESSURE LIGHT AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ( SMOG CONTROL). TIRES WERE CHECKED AND FOUND TO BE PROPERLY INFLATED, ALL FLUIDS, FILTERS, ETC, WERE CHECKED AND FOUND TO BE IN WORKING ORDER. VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN APPROXIMATELY 15-20 MILES. BOTH BEFORE MENTION LIGHTS CONTINUED TO COME ON AND OFF. VEHICLE WAS PARKED. APPROX 1 HOUR LATER VEHICLE HORN SOUNDED, I WALKED TO CHECK HORN AND FOUND THE VEHICLE INTERIOR IN FLAMES. I WAS ABLE TO PUT THE FIRE OUT, AND KEEP THE DAMAGE TO THE DRIVERS SIDE DASH, STEERING AREA. VEHICLE INTERIOR SUFFERED HEAVY SMOKE DAMAGE, FRONT WINDSHIELD CRACKED. CONTACTED INSURANCE COMPANY AND FORD MOTOR COMPANY. VEHICLE IS ONLY 9 MONTHS OLD AND STILL UNDER WARRANTY. I REQUESTED THAT FORD REPLACE MY VEHICLE WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE JUST LIKE I PURCHASED. FORD SENT LETTER SAYING THAT SINCE INSURANCE COMPANY IS INVOLVED THEY PROPOSE NO FURTHER ACTION. BUT SINCE VEHICLE IS USED, INSURANCE COMPANY WILL ONLY PAY FAIR MARKET VALUE, LEAVING ME TO PAY FOR THE BALANCE. ALL I WANT IS FOR FORD TO REPLACE MY DEFECTIVE VEHICLE. *JB