NHTSA Complaint #10208438 — 1993 FORD EXPLORER

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 FORD EXPLORER. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE GARAGE FOR SEVERAL HOURS WHEN THE CONTACT NOTICED A BURNING ELECTRICAL SMELL INSIDE HIS HOME. HE GOT HIS FAMILY OUT OF THE HOME AND THE HOME ALARM BEGAN TO SOUND. WHEN THEY EXITED THE HOUSE, THEY DISCOVERED THE GARAGE ENGULFED IN FLAMES. BY THE TIME THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED, THE HOME WAS ALSO ENGULFED IN FLAMES. BOTH VEHICLES IN THE GARAGE AND THE HOUSE WERE DESTROYED. THE CONTACT AND HIS WIFE WERE CHARGED WITH ARSON; HOWEVER, THE DAY BEFORE THE TRIAL, THE CHARGES WERE DROPPED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT EVEN THOUGH THE CHARGES WERE DROPPED, THE FIRE IS STILL LISTED AS SUSPICIOUS. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBERS 99V062001 AND 07V336000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) WERE REFERENCED. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THAT THIS IS WHAT STARTED THE FIRE, BUT THERE IS NO VEHICLE LEFT TO EXAMINE. A FIRE AND POLICE REPORT WERE FILED. THE VIN AND PURCHASE DATE WERE UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 73,000.