NHTSA Complaint #10176811 — 2000 FORD EXPLORER SPORT

MY CAR BREAK LIGHTS WERE NOT WORKING. I JUST SO HAPPENNED TO TELL MY UNCLE AND HE GOT WORRIED SINCE I HAVE A 1 YEAR OLD. WE WENT TO A CAR SHOP TO GO FIX IT. THEY TOLD ME IT WAS SIMPLY THE BREAK FUSE. WHEN THEY WENT TO REPLACE THE FUSE, THE CAR STARTED SMOKING TO THE POINT WHERE I COULD NOT EVEN SEE. I THOUGHT THE CAR WAS GOING TO EXPLODE SO I TOOK MY SON AND STARTED RUNNING. EVERYONE IN THE PARKING LOT STARTED RUNNING ALSO. THEY LIFTED THE HOOD, AND NOTICED THAT THE BRAKE CUT OFF SWITCH FOR CRUISE CONTROL WAS BURNING AND HE PUT IT OUT. THIS HAS BEEN A HUGE RECALL FOR MANY OTHER YEARS FOR FORD, BUT NOT FOR MINE. NOW FORD WANTS TO CHARGE ME BECAUSE MY VEHICLES YEAR IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THIS IS A MANUFACTURER ERROR AND IT IS WRONG FOR ME TO HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS MYSELF. IF MY SON AND I WOULD HAVE DIED, FORD WOULD BE LOOKING AT A MAJOR LAWSUIT. I AM WILLING TO TAKE THIS AS FAR AS I HAVE TO BECAUSE I HONESTLY BELIEVE FORD IS TRYING TO GET AWAY WITH THIS. THIS WAS A VERY FRIGHTENING INCIDENCE. *NM