NHTSA Complaint #10216041 — 2000 FORD TAURUS

WHILE DRIVING OFF THE PARKING LOT OF OUR CORNER CONVENIENCE STORE, MY SON TURN ON THE A/C ONLY TO HAVE SMOKE AND FLAMES SHOOT OUT FROM THE VENTS. IN AN INSTANT PANIC HE LOOKED AROUND AND FOUND THAT THEY WERE TRYING TO FLAG HIM THAT FLAMES WERE SHOOTING FROM UNDER THE CAR. HE IMMEDIATELY CROSSED THE STREET AND WAS ABLE TO GET OUT OF THE CAR SAFELY. THE FLAMES BURNED THROUGH THE TOP OF THE HOOD AND THANKFULLY THE FIRE DEPT WAS QUICK AND WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. EVERYTHING UNDER THE HOOD WAS DESTROYED AND EVEN THE FRONT TIRES WOULDN'T BUDGE WHEN TRYING TO PUSH THE VEHICLE OUT OF THE WAY AFTERWARDS. WE HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO OUR HOME AND STILL ARE IN POSSESSION OF IT. THOUGH NO WORK HAS BEEN DONE ON IT AND IN OUR OPINION NOTHING LEFT TO WORK ON, WE KNOW THAT THERE HAS TO HAVE BEEN SOMETHING FAULTY. SEVERAL MECHANIC FRIENDS ALL SAY THE SAME THING ABOUT LOOKING INTO THE CRUISE CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH WHICH HAS BEEN HAVING RECALLS, HOWEVER, OUR MAKE AND MODEL IS NOT ON THE RECALL LIST. STILL WE KNOW IT DOESN'T JUST HAPPEN WITHOUT A CAUSE WE ARE GRATEFUL THAT OUR SON WAS NOT INJURED AND THOUGH HE WAS DEFINITELY TRAUMATIZED, WE REALIZE IT COULD HAVE BEEN WORSE AS WE HEAR THE STORIES. WE NOW HAVE NO CAR AND STILL OWE A BALANCE SINCE IT TURNS OUT WHAT WE THOUGHT WE WERE PAYING FOR IN LIABILITY W/ COMP AND COLLISION TURNED OUT TO BE ONLY LIABILITY. THE FORD COMPANY SAYS IT CAN'T HELP US AND SO WE WERE GIVEN TO THIS SITE FOR SOME KIND OF DIRECTION. *TR