NHTSA Complaint #10275123 — 2003 FORD WINDSTAR

WE OWNED A 2003 FORD WINDSTAR, WHICH WE HAD NOT HAD ANY INCIDENTS PRIOR BESIDES INTERIOR LIGHTS FLICKERING. WE WERE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AT APPROXIMATELY 65MPH WHEN I SUDDENLY SAW A VERY DENSE LIGHT GRAY SMOKE IN THE DRIVER'S SIDE MIRROR. WE PULLED OVER IMMEDIATELY. I TOLD EVERYONE TO EXIT THE VEHICLE UPON SEEING FLAMES UNDER THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF THE DRIVERS FRONT TIRE, UNDER THE ENGINE. WE NEVER LOST POWER WHILE DRIVING AND THE ENGINE SHOWED NO SIGNS OF FAILURE. EVERYONE EXITED THE VEHICLE WITHOUT INJURY BUT UNFORTUNATELY THE FIRE WAS RAMPANT AND CONSUMED THE VEHICLE PRIOR TO EMERGENCY OFFICIALS ARRIVING. THERE WERE MULTIPLE EXPLOSIONS FROM THE VEHICLE DURING THE FIRE. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS, AS I NOW KNOW FROM LOOKING INTO IT FURTHER THAT THERE SEEMS TO BE A TREND OF ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES IN THIS MODEL. WE ALSO WERE NOT INFORMED OF THE RECALL FOR THE CRUISE CONTROL/BRAKE WIRING ISSUE. THE INSURANCE COMPANY CONSIDERED IT A TOTAL LOSS SO NOTHING COULD BE DONE DUE TO THE ISSUE. *TR