NHTSA Complaint #10237819 — 2002 FORD EXPEDITION

I BOUGHT MY FORD EXPEDITION (2002) BRAND NEW, HAVE ALWAYS BEEN THE REGISTERED OWNER AND HAVE NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR THE VEHICLE. MY FORD EXPEDITION CAUGHT FIRE AT OUR FAMILY MEDICAL FACILITY (RANCHO BERNARDO) AFTER AN HOUR OF BEING OFF AND PARKED. THE MEDICAL FACILITY ANNOUNCED A CAR ON FIRE WITH DESCRIPTION AND I RAN OUTSIDE AND CALLED 911 BUT FIRE DEPARTMENT RESPONDED AS I WAS STILL ON THE PHONE. THANKS TO THE LIGHTNING SPEED OF RB FIRE THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO ANYTHING EXCEPT MY VEHICLE. THE FIREFIGHTERS ON THE SCENE TOLD ME THAT THEY SUSPECTED THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH. IT ONLY BURNED INSIDE THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT - IN FRONT OF THE DRIVER SIDE. AN INDEPENDENT FIRE INVESTIGATOR DETERMINED AFTER COMPLETING HIS INVESTIGATION THAT THE VEHICLE FIRE WAS DUE TO A FAULTY CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH AND BRAKE FLUID HAD LEAKED INTO THE ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT THAT IS ALWAYS ON FOR THE CRUISE CONTROL. THE VEHICLE WAS STILL DECLARED A TOTAL LOSS BY MY INSURANCE COMPANY DUE TO HIGH REPAIR ESTIMATES. ON 8/5/2008 MY INSURANCE COMPANY PURCHASED THE VEHICLE FROM ME FOR A LITTLE OVER THE KBB PRIVATE PARTY VALUE DUE TO RECENT VEHICLE ADD-ONS I PROVIDED RECEIPTS FOR. MY INSURANCE COMPANY WAIVED THE DEDUCTIBLE. MY FAMILY (3 PEOPLE) WAS DOWN TO 1 CAR FOR A LITTLE OVER A MONTH AND WE ALL WORK AND GO TO SCHOOL. ON SEVERAL DAYS I HAD TO GET A RENTAL CAR AND DID NOT HAVE INSURANCE TO COVER THESE COSTS AND HAVE NOT BEEN REIMBURSED FOR THE DAYS I HAD TO RENT A CAR.