NHTSA Complaint #10456291 — 2009 FORD F-150

TRUCK PARKED IN GARAGE FROM SAT EVENING 4/21/2012 FROM SHORT 9 MILE TRIP. TRUCK STARTED AROUND 10:30 A.M. SUN 4/22/2012. REMOVED FROM GARAGE FOR 3 MINUTES THEN RETURNED TO GARAGE. SHUT OFF. LEFT RESIDENCE IN ANOTHER VEHICLE. RETURNED AROUND 7:30 P.M. OPENED THE GARAGE TO FIND A SMOKY HAZE COMING FROM IT. THE ENTIRE GARAGE WAS HOT. I NOTICED DRIPS OF SOME SUBSTANCE UNDER THE TRUCK AND ON THE RUNNING BOARDS. I IMMEDIATELY REALIZED IT WAS THE UNDERCOATING THAT WAS WARM ENOUGH TO MELT AND DRIP. I GOT INTO THE TRUCK TO START IT UP BUT THE BATTERY WAS DEAD. IT WAS WARM ENOUGH IN THE CAB OF THE TRUCK TO LIQUEFY TOOTSY ROLLS THAT WERE IN THERE. I COULD NOT GET THE TRUCK IN NEUTRAL TO PUSH IT OUT OF THE GARAGE. AFTER A SHORT PERIOD WITH THE GARAGE DOORS OPEN AND EVERYTHING SEEMING TO COOL DOWN. I USED A BATTERY CHARGER TO TRY START THE TRUCK. IT WOULD JUST CLICK AND NOT ROLL OVER. WITH THE CHARGER THERE WAS ENOUGH POWER TO PUT IT IN NEUTRAL AND PUSH THE TRUCK OUT OF THE GARAGE. THERE WE USED A COMMERCIAL BATTERY STARTER AND THE TRUCK STARTED UP. THERE WAS A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON ALL THE TIME BUT IT SEEMED TO RUN FINE. ALL GAUGES READ WHERE THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO. THE WATER TEMPERATURE GAUGE WAS IMMEDIATELY AT THE WARMED UP LINE UPON STARTING. LEFT IT OUTSIDE OVERNIGHT. FOLLOWING MORNING DROVE IT 10 MILES TO LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP. THEY TESTED EVERYTHING AND COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT. THE DEALERSHIP CALLED THEIR HOTLINE AND THEY HAD NEVER HEARD OF ANYTHING LIKE THAT HAPPENING BEFORE.. THERE WAS NOTHING ELSE IN THE GARAGE THAT WAS AFFECTED. *TR