NHTSA Complaint #10548037 — 2001 FORD ESCAPE

ON OCTOBER 10TH, 2013, MY WIFE AND I HAD MET FOR HER BIRTHDAY DINNER AT A RESTAURANT IN OUR TOWN. MY WIFE DROVE THE 2001 FORD ESCAPE TO THE RESTAURANT, ABOUT 5 MILES, FROM OUR HOME AND PARKED THE CAR. WE HAD BEEN AT DINNER FOR APPROXIMATELY 25 MINUTES WHEN THE WAITRESS ASKED US IF WE DROVE A RED SUV. WE WERE LED TO THE VEHICLE THAT WAS ON FIRE AND IN THE PROCESS OF BEING EXTINGUISHED BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. THE FIRE INVESTIGATOR SAID THAT IT LOOKED AS IF THE FIRE HAD STARTED ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND THAT NOTHING ELSE LOOKED SUSPICIOUS. HE POINTED OUT THAT THE WIRE INSULATION ON THAT SIDE OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WAS ALL MELTED AWAY TO BARE COPPER AND THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE WIRING WAS STILL MORE INTACT. THE FIRE DESTROYED THE ENTIRE FRONT END OF THE CAR, THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, THE DRIVER'S SIDE FENDER, THE DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE AND RIM AND MELTED THE DRIVER'S SIDE DASHBOARD. THE ENTIRE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE IS SMOKE DAMAGED SINCE THE CAR WAS LOCKED UP. THE VEHICLE IS A TOTAL LOSS. JUST GRATEFUL THAT MY DAUGHTER OR WIFE WEREN'T DRIVING IT AT THE TIME OF THE FIRE. *TR