NHTSA Complaint #10379911 — 2000 FORD F-150

MY 2000 FORD F-150 WAS IN FRONT OF MY DOCTOR'S OFFICE WHILE I WAS INSIDE FOR A DR. APPT. MONDAY, JANUARY 31, 2011. WHILE WAITING, THE RECEPTIONIST TOLD ME SHE THOUGHT MY TRUCK WAS ON FIRE. SMOKE WAS BILLOWING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD, BUT NO FLAMES WERE SEEN. THE FIRE DEPT. WAS CALLED, AND ONE OF THE FIREMEN TOLD ME THE ORIGIN OF THE FIRE WAS FROM THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH ON THE FRONT OF THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER. HE TOLD ME HE WAS AWARE OF A FORD RECALL ON THAT PART. I WAS NEVER MAILED ANY RECALL NOTICES!! THE FIRE MELTED THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH/WIRING, MELTED THE PLASTIC BRAKE FLUID RESERVOIR, AND ALSO DAMAGED THE MASTER CYLINDER. I HAD IT TOWED TO THE NEAREST DEALERSHIP. THIS IS MY FAMILY'S ONLY MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION, SO I ASKED FOR A LOANER OR RENTAL CAR WHILE MY TRUCK WAS BEING REPAIRED. THEY ARE REFUSING TO PAY FOR THE COST OF A REPLACEMENT VEHICLE AND ALSO, THEY ARE REFUSING TO REPAIR ANY ?RELATED DAMAGES? (BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER AND BRAKE FLUID RESERVOIR) AS A RESULT OF THE FIRE CAUSED BY THEIR DEFECTIVE PART. THEY SAID THEY WOULD ONLY MAKE REPAIRS ON THE RECALL PART BUT NOT REPAIRS TO RELATED DAMAGES? (BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER AND BRAKE FLUID RESERVOIR) CAUSED BYTHE FIRE. WHY AM I EXPECTED TO PAY FOR EXPENSES INCURRED BECAUSE OF A DEFECTIVE PART THAT WAS RECALLED BY FORD? THE RECALL IS A PAINFULLY OBVIOUS ADMISSION OF NEGLIGENCE THEY NEED TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE DAMAGES CAUSED TO MY TRUCK, AS WELL AS THE INCONVENIENCE AND HARDSHIP OF NOT HAVING A MODE OF TRANSPORTATION FOR MY FAMILY. WE ARE NOW A ONE INCOME FAMILY, (I LOST MY JOB 2 MONTHS AGO WHILE IN THE HOSPITAL) AND WE DO NOT HAVE MONEY TO PAY FOR THESE EXPENSES. LET ALONE OUR MONTHLY BILLS! I NEED IMMEDIATE RESOLUTION AND I AM NOT GETTING ANY COOPERATION OR ASSISTANCE FROM FORD'S CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP SERVICES DEPARTMENT. THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE AND I WILL NOT ACCEPT THEIR LACK OF CONCERN OR ATTENTION TO MY URGENT SITUATION. *TR