NHTSA Complaint #10208131 — 1998 FORD WINDSTAR

NO PROBLEMS WITH THE WINDSTAR BEFORE THE INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND UNATTENDED WHEN THE OWNER WAS ALERTED BY OTHER RESIDENTS THAT IT WAS ON FIRE. THE SMOKE WAS WHITE IN COLOR AND COMING FROM THE FRONT LEFT AREA OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. AT THE TIME THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED, THE FIRE HAD MADE ITS WAY THROUGH THE FIRE WALL INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. THE INVESTIGATOR DETERMINED THE FIRE APPEARED TO HAVE STARTED IN THE FRONT LEFT CORNER OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT EVIDENT BY THE HEAVIER BURNING IN THAT AREA THERE IS A V-PATTERN NOTED ON THE BACK SIDE OF THE RADIATOR POINTING TO THE CENTER OF THE ENGINE. THE FIRE APPEARED TO HAVE BREACHED THE FIRE WALL AT THE AREA WHERE THE MAIN WIRING HARNESS AND STEERING COLUMNS COME THROUGH INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. CAUSE WAS RULED UNDETERMINED. *TR