NHTSA Complaint #10330899 — 2001 FORD ESCAPE

I HAVE A 2001 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE STAYING AT A HOTEL ON VACATION IN MARFA, TX, I WAS AWAKENED BY MY CAR ALARM GOING OF AT APPROXIMATELY 5:30 AM ON MAY 12, 2010. WHEN I WENT OUTSIDE TO TURN IT OFF, I FOUND SMOKE POURING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. OUR NEIGHBOR CALLED 911, AND THE CAR CONTINUED TO SMOKE UNTIL THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED. AS THE FIRE DEPT. WAS INSPECTING THE CAR, FLAMES DID APPEAR FROM THE ABS WIRING HARNESS AND MODULE. THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED QUICKLY AND DAMAGE WAS CONFINED TO THE ABS HARNESS AND MODULE. I HAD RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR THE ABS HARNESS A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, AND TOOK MY CAR TO A DEALERSHIP IN AUSTIN TO HAVE THE NECESSARY WORK PERFORMED. THAT WORK WAS PERFORMED ON AUGUST 6, 2008. WHEN I CONTACTED FORD TO LET THEM KNOW THAT MY CAR HAD CAUGHT FIRE EVEN THOUGH THE RECALL WAS PERFORMED, THEY INFORMED ME THAT THEIR RECORDS SHOWED THAT THE ABS HARNESS ON MY CAR WAS INSPECTED AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT IT DID NOT NEED TO BE REPLACED. AS OF MAY 16, 2010, MY CAR IS STILL AT A FORD DEALERSHIP IN FORT STOCKTON, TX AND I AM AT HOME IN AUSTIN WAITING TO HEAR FROM FORD'S OFFICE OF GENERAL COUNCIL. *TR