NHTSA Complaint #10406728 — 2003 FORD EXPEDITION

AT 4:40AM, WAS WOKE UP BY THE POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENT WHO RESPONDED TO A CALL IN OF OUR VEHICLE, A 2003 FORD EXPEDITION BEING ON FIRE. BASED ON THE INFORMATION RECEIVED FROM THE FIRE CREW CHIEF, THE FIRE HAD STARTED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE, AND APPEARED TO BE ELECTRICAL IN NATURE. THE CAR HAD LAST BEEN USED THE PRIOR NIGHT AT 8PM, WHEN WE RETURNED FROM EATING DINNER, AND HAD REMAINED IDLE SINCE THAT TIME. UPON HEARING OUR STORY, SEVERAL FRIENDS MENTIONED THAT THEY HAD READ STORIES ABOUT FORD VEHICLES THAT HAD AN ISSUE WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH CAUSING FIRES, EVEN IN VEHICLES THAT HAD REMAINED IDLE FOR SEVERAL HOURS. I CHECKED AND IT DOES NOT APPEAR THERE WERE ANY RECALLS FOR MY VEHICLE'S YEAR, BUT HAD BEEN FOR THE PRIOR YEAR'S (2002). HERE IS A LINK TO ONE ARTICLE (ALTHOUGH THERE ARE MANY): HTTP://ARTICLES.CNN.COM/2005-06-16/US/FORD.VEHICLES_1_FORD-VEHICLES-BRAKE-FLUID-CRUISE-CONTROL?_S=PM:US THE CAR IS A COMPLETE LOSS, THE ENGINE MOSTLY GONE AND THE TIRE AND PART OF THE BODY MELTED TO MY DRIVEWAY. THE DAMAGE INSPECTOR FOR OUR INSURANCE COMPANY STATED IT WAS LIKELY THAT THEY WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO COVER OUR FULL LIEN AMOUNT AND I BELIEVE AT THE VERY LEAST FORD SHOULD MAKE WHOLE FOR US. THE INSURANCE COMPANY IS WORKING WITH FORD ABOUT POSSIBLE SUBROGATION, BUT IT IS UNCLEAR AT THIS POINT IN TIME IF THE INSURANCE COMPANY WILL ASK FOR DOLLARS BEYOND WHAT THEY WOULD PAY OUT IN THE LOSS. WE WERE FORTUNATE IT DID NOT SPREAD TO OUR HOME, MY HUSBAND'S FORD PARKED NEXT TO IT OR TO OUR BOAT WHICH WAS DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF IT. IT WAS VERY, VERY CLOSE AND COULD HAVE EASILY HAPPENED. WE FEEL VERY FORTUNATE THAT WE DID NOT PARK THE VEHICLE IN OUR GARAGE OR ANY CLOSER TO THE BOAT, WHOSE COVER HAD MELTED AND COULD HAVE EASILY SET ON FIRE GIVEN THE HEAT AND SEVERITY OF THE FIRE.