NHTSA Complaint #10459815 — 1996 FORD WINDSTAR

MY VAN WAS IN GREAT SHAPE AND GREAT CONDITION. I WAS DRIVING TO WORK ON MAY 6TH 2012 ABOUT 45-50 MPH ENTERED THE I-215 COLLECTOR, STARTED TO SMELL A BURNED RUBBER SMELL, I LOOKED AT THE TEMP GAUGE AND IT WAS NORMAL, THE VAN STARTED TO SPUTTER LIKE RUNNING OUT OF GAS, THE VAN WAS NOT OUT OF GAS ALMOST FULL, THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT STARTED TO FLASH ON AND OFF, I PULLED OVER TO THE SHOULDER AND CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP, LOOKED AT THE TEMP GAUGE AGAIN AND IT STILL WAS NORMAL, THE BURNED RUBBER SMELL GOT WORSE AND I NOTICED THEN A BLACK SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I GOT OUT OF THE VAN AND STOOD AT THE FRONT OF THE VAN TO CALL AAA AND THE ENGINE BURST INTO FLAMES UNDER THE HOOD. THERE WAS NOT INDICATOR WHAT SO EVER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OVERHEATING. THIS ALL OCCURRED IN ABOUT 5-10 MINUTES. THE POLICE CAME AND COULD NOT PUT THE FIRE OUT WITH EXTINGUISHER. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT HAD TO PUT THE FIRE OUT. IT BURNED UP MY ENTIRE VEHICLE WITH ALL THE CONTENTS INSIDE. THE FIREMAN STATED THAT EVEN THE FRONT TIRES WERE BURNED UP AND MELTED. I DID GET PICTURES OF WHAT HAPPENED. I ONLY HAD LIABILITY INSURANCE SO I THOUGHT I WAS JUST OUT OF LUCK. A SECURITY SPECIALIST FROM WORK SAID THAT IT SOUNDED LIKE THE FIRE COULD HAVE STARTED DUE TO A FACTORY SAFETY DEFECT AND TOLD ME TO DO SOME RESEARCH. I DID FIND THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE SPEED SWITCH OR CONTROL ON 1996 FORD WINDSTARS. I ALWAYS USE MY CRUISE CONTROL. I HAVE FILED A CLAIM WITH MY INSURANCE BASED ON A BURN UNDER THE ASSUMPTION THAT THE FIRE OCCURRED DUE TO THE SPEED CONTROL RECALL. PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHAT I CAN DO. I NEVER RECEIVED ANY NOTIFICATION OF THE RECALL OR I WOULD HAVE TAKEN IT IN TO BE FIXED BEFORE THIS HAPPENED. *TR