NHTSA Complaint #10334770 — 2000 FORD TAURUS

ON MAY 13, 2010 AT APPROXIMATELY 8:50 A.M. MY 2000 FORD TAURUS CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE IT WAS PARKED IN THE PARKING LOT OF MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD CATHOLIC CHURCH IN CORPUS CHRISTI. I WAS ATTENDING MORNING MASS AT THE TIME OF THE FIRE. IF NOT FOR THE SWIFT ACTION OF THE SECRETARY WHO CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, THE FIRE WOULD HAVE SPREAD FROM THE HOOD TO THE GAS TANK AND IT WOULD HAVE EXPLODED. MY CAR WAS DECLARED A TOTAL LOSS AND I WAS GRATEFUL THAT I WAS NOT IN THE CAR AT THE TIME OF THE FIRE. I HAVE ELDERLY PARENTS WHO ARE WITH ME ALL THE TIME AND SOME TIMES THEY STAY IN THE CAR WHILE I RUN IN TO GET THEM SOMETHING FROM THE STORE. MY CAR WAS WELL MAINTAINED AND ONLY HAD 90,000 MILES ON IT. MY ALLSTATE INSURANCE DID PAY ME FOR THE VALUE OF THE CAR, HOWEVER, I NOW HAD TO BUY A NEW CAR AND I HAVE ACQUIRED A MONTHLY PAYMENT OF $300 FOR FIVE YEARS, WHEN I HAD NO CAR PAYMENT ON MY FORD. I WANT TO FIND OUT WHY THIS FIRE STARTED. THE FIRE REPORT SAID IT WAS ELECTRICAL OR WIRE. BUT, THEY USE THAT AS A DEFAULT REASON ON CAR FIRES. WHAT CAN I DO ABOUT THIS?? I NEVER HAVE EXPERIENCED ANYTHING LIKE THIS EVER BEFORE AND I AM WONDERING WHAT I CAN DO ABOUT IT. PLEASE HELP. *TR