NHTSA Complaint #10442565 — 2006 FORD FREESTYLE

SUMMARY: I WAS PUTTING GAS IN MY CAR, AS I ENTERED THE CAR AFTER FUELING, I WAS TALKING TO MY MOTHER FOR A MOMENT, AND AS I WAS ABOUT TO PLACE THE KEY IN THE IGNITION, THERE WAS BLACK SMOKE COMING FROM THE PASSENGER MIRROR. I GOT OUT AND RAN OVER, AND SAW FLAMES. I RIPPED THE BLACK COVER WITH THE MIRROR OFF, SAW THAT THERE WAS AN ELECTRICAL FIRE. BURNING MYSELF, I PUT THE FIRE OUT IN TIME TO KEEP IT FROM GETTING OUT OF CONTROL. WITH THE FIRE SAFELY OUT, I SAW THAT IT WAS FROM THE LED COURTESY LIGHT ASSEMBLY AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PASSENGER SIDE MIRROR. IT WAS COMPLETELY MELTED AND BURNED. I REMOVED THE PART, (AS WELL AS THE ONE FROM THE DRIVER SIDE FOR SAFE MEASURE), AND TOOK THEM TO MY LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP SO THEY COULD REPORT IT AS A FAULTY PART. THE PART IS THE WAGNER PART 71077. ACCORDING TO THE DRIVER SIDE (I COULD NOT READ THE PASSENGER SIDE TO SEE IF IT HAS THE SAME PART NUMBER, OR IF IT IS DIFFERENT FOR RIGHT AND LEFT.) THE WIRE ASSEMBLY, WAS BURNED NEAR THE BASE OF THE WIRES WHERE THEY ENTER THE ASSEMBLY. HAD I NOT BEEN THERE TO PUT OUT THE FIRE, MY CAR WOULD HAVE BURNT TO THE GROUND!!! MY HAND IS RECOVERING AT THIS TIME. *TR UPDATED 09/19/13*LJ THE CONSUMER SOLD THE VEHICLE, A YEAR AGO. UPDATED 09/24/13