NHTSA Complaint #10237435 — 2002 FORD WINDSTAR

WHILE PARTIALLY PARKED INTO THE GARAGE, AFTER DRIVING FOR ONE HOUR AND SITTING FOR HALF OF AN HOUR, SMOKE WAS OBSERVED FROM UNDER VAN. SMOKE STOPPED AND NOTICED "ABS" WARNING LIGHT ON. BRAKES WORKED, BUT CRUISE CONTROL DID NOT. DEALER INSTALLED/ REPLACED: 1) BRAKE KIT/ BRAKE PRESSURE DEACTIVATION SWITCH, 2) ECM CONTROL MODULE, 3) VALVE ASY. 4) TWO WIRING HARNESSES (ONE WAS A USED FROM A FORD ESCAPE, DUE TO THE AVAILABILITY AND COST.), 5) TWO FUSES, 6) BRAKE FLUID AND MISC. SHOP SUPPLIES. IT WAS AT THE DEALER FOR 11 DAYS, COST FOR REPAIRS WAS $1831. DROVE IT 5 MILES AND "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT CAME ON. THE DEALER STATED THIS WAS NOT RELATED TO ORIGINAL PROBLEM. IT WAS THE DPFE SENSOR: $331 TO REPAIR. NORMALLY THE VAN IS GARAGED, LUCKILY SOMETHING WAS IN THE WAY OF FULLY PULLING IT INTO THE GARAGE AND THE FIRE WENT AWAY QUICKLY. DEALER STATED IT WAS A "CATASTROPHIC FAILURE" AND THAT THE DEACTIVATION SWITCH HAD NOTHING TO DUE WITH THE VALVE ASY. GOING BAD/LEAKING CAUSING A FIRE. *TR