NHTSA Complaint #10459020 — 2001 FORD F-150

THE TRUCK STARTED ON FIRE WHILE SITTING IN THE DRIVEWAY HOURS AFTER BEING PARKED. BY THE TIME WE REALIZED IT WAS ON FIRE, IT WAS TOTALLY OUT OF CONTROL AND THE TRUCK WELL BEYOND SAVING. IT BURNED SO HOT IT MELTED THE TIRES, THE SIDING OF THE HOUSE AND DESTROYED PART OF A PRIVACY FENCE. WE KEPT WATER ON THE FIRE UNTIL IT WENT OUT ABOUT AN HOUR AND A HALF LATER. THE FIRE STARTED UNDER THE HOOD AND THE WHOLE FRONT OF THE TRUCK IS ALMOST UNRECOGNIZABLE. THE OWNER ( [XXX] ) IS AN AUTO MECHANIC AND HAS BEEN FOR FORTY PLUS YEARS. WE RUN AN AUTO REPAIR BUSINESS. WE HAD HEARD VAGUE THINGS ABOUT FORDS AND FIRES BUT DID NOT LOOK INTO IT UNTIL AFTER THE INCIDENT. WE PURCHASED THE TRUCK THIS WINTER AND NEVER GOT ANY RECALL NOTICES FOR THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH PROBLEM. THE PRIOR OWNER SAYS HE DID NOT EITHER. WE HAVE NOT YET CONTACTED FORD BECAUSE OF READING ALL THE HORROR STORIES OF HOW THEY REFUSE RESPONSIBILITY. WE HAD LIABILITY INSURANCE ONLY. THE ANGER IS LETTING UP A BIT AND THE SHOCK HAS WORN OFF AND NOW WE ARE FIGURING OUT THE NEXT STEP. REPORTING THE INCIDENT TO YOU SEEMS TO BE IT. I WILL CONTACT FORD ON MONDAY. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR