NHTSA Complaint #10198682 — 1997 FORD F-150

VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN DRIVEWAY WITH DOORS LOCKED AND IGNITION IN THE OFF POSITION. NO ONE WAS NEAR OR IN THE VEHICLE. LOOKED OUT WINDOW AND NOTICED WHAT LOOKED LIKE MIST FROM A WATER SPRINKLER FROM THE FRONT SIDE OF TRUCK. LOOKING CLOSER, I REALIZED IT WAS SMOKE AND THEN SAW FLAMES FROM THE TIRE WELL AND UNDER THE HOOD BY THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS. CALLED 911. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED VERY QUICKLY, PUTTING THE FIRE OUT. THEIR ASSESSMENT WAS IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL SHORT WHICH HAD CAUSED THE FIRE. THE FIRE CAUSED THE HOOD HYDRAULIC LIFT TO EXPLODE LIKE A ROCKET, HITTING THE WINDSHIELD, CRACKING IT AND THEN SHOOTING OFF INTO THE YARD. THE FRAMES INSIDE THE ENGINE HOUSING BY THE DRIVERS TIRE BURNT THE HOUSING COMPLETELY AWAY. THE WIRING HAS BEEN COMPLETELY BURNED AND MELTED AWAY INSIDE THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. ALL THE PLASTIC FLUID CONTAINERS MELTED, THE ENTIRE ENGINE HOUSING, ENGINE AND ALL ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS UNDER THE HOOD WERE BURNED UP OR DAMAGED IN SOME WAY BY THIS FIRE. THE TRUCK WILL NOT START OR RUN. NONE OF THE LIGHTS WORK, RADIO, HEAT, AIR OR POWER FUNCTIONS WORK. THE TRUCK IS TOTALLY INOPERABLE. I CONTACTED THE INSURANCE COMPANY AND THEY DIRECTED ME TO THIS SITE TO LOOK FOR FIRE RELATED DEFECTS AND TO FILE A COMPLAINT. THE TRUCK HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED AS IT IS BEYOND REPAIR SINCE ALL THE WIRING AND MOST OF THE INSIDES UNDER THE HOOD HAVE BURNED UP OR MELTED. *JB