NHTSA Complaint #10370564 — 2000 FORD EXPLORER

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WITH THE ENGINE OFF WHEN SHE ENGAGED THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH TO SHUT OFF THE HEADLIGHTS. THE KNOB HAD BECOME ABNORMALLY HOT AND FELL TO THE FLOOR WHEN ENGAGED. SHE THEN OBSERVED A CHEMICAL COMING FROM THE KNOB CASING AND BLACK SMOKE BEGAN EMITTING FROM UNDER THE DASHBOARD NEAR THE STEERING COLUMN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED NEAR A GASOLINE FUEL LINE AND THE VEHICLE THEN EXPLODED. THE STEREO WAS BLOWN OUT INTO THE STREET AND GLASS EXPLODED IN SEVERAL DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS. A SECOND VEHICLE THAT WAS PARKED NEARBY WAS ALSO DAMAGED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED AND A FIRE REPORT WAS AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURED WAS NOT CONTACTED IN REGARDS TO THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000.