NHTSA Complaint #10542310 — 2008 FORD ESCAPE

I WAS AWAKE SITTING AT MY DINNING ROOM TABLE, I SMELT SOMETHING (BURNT RUBBER) SO I CHECK ALL ROOM IN THE HOUSE. I WALK OUTSIDE AND SAW SMOKE COMING OUT FROM MY FORD ESCAPE THAT WAS PARK. I WOKE MY KIDS, CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND GRABBED THE WATER HOSE. ONCE THE FIRE FIGHTERS WERE ON THE SCENE, THEY OPENED THE DRIVER DOOR, SMOKE EXITED THE DOORS EXPOSING OXYGEN CAUSING SOME FLICKERING OF THE FLAME TO START. WATER WAS DISCHARGED ONTO THE SMOLDERING INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE & COOLING DOWN IGNITION OF DASH AREA (RADIO IS LOCATED). THE HEAT WAS SO HOT THAT IT CRACKED FRONT WINDSHIELD, MELTED ALL PLASTIC FRAME INSIDE THE VEHICLE (MIDDLE AREA NEAR RADIO & SHIFT GEAR) AND BLACKEN ALL THE WINDOWS. ONCE FIRE WAS UNDER CONTROL, FIRE FIGHTER STATED IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL WIRE. BATTERY CABLE WAS ALSO CUT TO PREVENT ANY DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIR BAGS. BUT THEN I WAS IN SHOCK JUST THINKING OMG! I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE TO WORK ALL WEEK AND PARK IT LATER THAT NIGHT. TODAY I STILL DON'T KNOW THE ELECTRICAL FIRE STARTED, VERY PUZZLING BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT RUNNING AND THERE ARE NO RECALLS FROM FORD DEALER ON THIS MODEL. UNFORTUNATELY, I DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO PAY FOR MY VEHICLE INSURANCE FOR ANOTHER MONTH SO THERE FORE AM STUCK WITH THE BILL. I BOUGHT THE USE VEHICLE AT DRIVE TIME IN PHOENIX ARIZONA AND THE FINANCE COMPANY HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH MY SITUATION BUT FOR ME TO PAY THE VEHICLE OFF. LIKE I SAID I STILL DON'T KNOW THE EXACT CAUSE OF THE FIRE EXPECT IT WAS CAUSE BY WIRING. I COULD SEE THE V SHAPE OUTLINE OF WHERE THE FIRE STARTED. NOT ONLY THAT BUT I HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE IGNITION, I HAD TO TURN THE KEY ALL THE WAY AROUND IN ORDER FOR THE VEHICLE TO START (NO RECALLS)? I AM STILL SAD BY ALL OF THIS BUT VERY THANKFUL THAT NO ONE WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE......WHO KNOWS WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED?