NHTSA Complaint #10202741 — 2001 FORD WINDSTAR

MY FAMILY AND I WERE EXITING THE NEW YORK STATE THRUWAY AT EXIT 25A ON WED 8/8 AT APPROXIMATELY 8:30PM. SPARKS WERE NOTICEABLE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF OUR 2001 FORD WINDSTAR. THE SPARKS WERE COMING FROM UNDER THE LEFT SIDE OF THE HOOD. AS WE WENT THROUGH THE TOLL BOOTH AND ONTO THE EXIT RAMP TO ROUTE 7, SMOKE BEGAN COMING IN THE AIR VENTS. AT THAT TIME I PULLED TO THE SHOULDER OF THE RAMP AND LOOKED IN THE REAR OF THE CAR FOR A FIRE EXTINGUISHER. UNFORTUNATELY I DID NOT HAVE ONE IN THE CAR. I THEN WENT TO ASSIST MY WIFE WITH GETTING OUR 5 YEAR OLD SON OUT OF THE BACK SEAT. AT THAT TIME I NOTICED FLAMES COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD ON THE LEFT SIDE. WE EXITED THE VEHICLE AND ANOTHER PERSON ASSISTED ME WITH GETTING VARIOUS BELONGINGS OUT. WE THEN WAITED FOR HELP TO ARRIVE. THE CAR WAS TOTALLY DESTROYED BY THE FIRE. THE INSURANCE COMPANY TOOK CARE OF WHAT THEY CONSIDERED THE VALUE (THIS VALUE WAS LOWER THAN THE NADA VALUE). I PROTESTED THIS BUT WAS TOLD THEY COULD NOT CONSIDER NADA DUE TO ITS ACCESSIBILITY ONLINE. THEIR VALUE RESULTED IN MY HAVING TO PAY $1000 TO FULFILL MY LOAN OBLIGATION AND RELEASE THE LIEN TO THE INSURANCE COMPANY. I THEN CONTACTED FORD AND REPORTED THE INCIDENT TO WHICH THEIR REPLY WAS THE INSURANCE COMPANY COULD PURSUE RESTITUTION BUT NOT MYSELF. WHY IS IT THAT I AM THE ONE THAT SUFFERS THIS GREAT LOSS? WE HAVE SPENT $2000 TO SATISFY THIS LOAN AND PUT A DOWN PAYMENT ON A NEW CAR. THIS CLEARLY IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF FORD. CARS DO NOT JUST CATCH ON FIRE FOR NO REASON. THERE ARE MANY RECALLS ON FORD PRODUCTS. LAWYERS HAVE NOT RESPONDED TO MY MESSAGES REGARDING THIS MATTER BECAUSE NO ONE WAS INJURED. I AM ONLY SEEKING FOR FORD TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS OR THE INSURANCE COMPANY TO PAY THE PROPER VALUE OF MY VEHICLE. *TR