NHTSA Complaint #10409083 — 2002 FORD EXPLORER

I WAS RIDING ALONG THE HIGHWAY IN MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER WITH MY TWO KIDS ON VACATION. WE HAD BEEN DRIVING FOR ABOUT 4 HOURS . I WAS USING THE CRUISE CONTROL. I CAME TO A RED LIGHT THEN CONTINUED ON FOR ABOUT 2 MILES THAN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CHECK TEMP GAUGE CAME ON AND THE GAUGE WAS ALL THE WAY HOT. I WAITED FOR A SAFE PLACE ON THE SIDE OF THE RODE TO PULL OVER. AS SOON AS THE TRUCK WAS PUT IN PARK SMOKE STARTED COMING IN THROUGH THE GLOVE BOX AND THE HOOD. MY SON WHO WAS SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT SAID HIS LEGS FELT HOT. A PASSERBY PULLED OVER AND YELLED GET YOUR STUFF AND GET OUT OF THE TRUCK. WE HAD ENOUGH TIME TO GET WHAT WE COULD AND RUN. THE TRUCK STARTED TO BURN AND ALL WE COULD DO WAS WATCH. WE WERE STRANDED 4 HOURS FROM HOME. LUCKILY FOR US THE GOOD SAMARITANS PROBABLY SAVED OUR LIVES. THE TRUCK WENT FROM HOT TO FULLY INVOLVED IN A MATTER OF A FEW MINUTES. BY THE TIME THE FIRE DEPT. CAME THE TRUCK WAS A TOTAL LOSS. *TR