NHTSA Complaint #10180701 — 2005 FORD F-150

I WAS ON A TRIP OUT OF TOWN AND I SMELT SOMETHING BURNING. FEW MINUTES LATER, I SAW SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE CORNER CENTER CONSOLE. I PULLED OVER TO INVESTIGATE AND SAW A LIGHT SHINING THROUGH THE SIDE OF MY CONSOLE THAT DIDN'T BELONG THERE. WHEN I TURNED OFF MY HEADLIGHTS AND THE LIGHT WOULD TURN OFF AND STOP MELTING THE PLASTIC OF THE CONSOLE. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN WORSE FOR ME HAD IT NOT BEEN DAYLIGHT! IT TURNS OUT IT WAS THE LIGHT THAT CONNECTS TO THE GEAR SHIFT TO ILLUMINATE THE LETTERS (P, R, D, ETC.) HAD NOT BEEN SCREWED IN TIGHTLY AT THE MANUFACTURE. FORD REPLACED THE CONSOLE, THE CONNECTION BRACKET AND THE LIGHT SOCKET AS THEY HAD MELTED TOGETHER. MY HUSBANDS LIGHT IN HIS F150 UNSCREWED TOO, BUT DIDN'T CAUSE ANY DAMAGE. *NM