NHTSA Complaint #10576899 — 2012 FORD TRANSIT CONNECT

AS I'M DRIVING HOME, I START TO SMELL AN UNUSUAL ODOR. I GET HOME , PULL IN DRIVE, TURN OFF TRANSIT AND START UNLOADING GROCERIES. THIS IS WHEN I NOTICE SMOKE COMING FROM THE DASHBOARD. I CONTINUE TO UNLOAD WHILE I KEEP AN EYE ON THE SMOKE. IT WORSENS AND I REALIZE IT WAS ON FIRE AND BY NOW THERE WERE ORANGE DROPS OF FIRE FALLING TO THE FLOOR. I YELL FOR MY NEIGHBOR WHO USES OUR FIRE EXTINGUISHERS ON SITE TO TRY AND PUT OUT THE FIRE. WE HAD TO UNHOOK THE BATTERY CABLES TO FINALLY GET THE FIRE OUT COMPLETELY. IT SEEMED CENTRALIZED AROUND THE GLOVE BOX ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. THE DASHBOARD ON THAT SIDE WAS COMPLETELY BURNED. MY FIRST CALL WAS TO APPLE FORD IN RED LION, THE DEALERSHIP IT WAS PURCHASED AT LESS THAN A YEAR PRIOR. MY SECOND CALL WAS TO MY INSURANCE COMPANY. APPLE DISMISSED THE INSURANCE ADJUSTER SAYING IT WAS A WARRANTY ISSUE ON DAY 2. THE TRANSIT HAS BEEN SITTING AT APPLE FORD UNTOUCHED EVER SINCE (2 MONTHS!!) AS WE LOOKED FOR ANSWERS WE ONLY GOT BOUNCED BETWEEN APPLE AND CORPORATE FORD WITH NO RESOLUTION AND NO ANSWERS. OUR INSURANCE COMPANY HAS NOW GOTTEN INVOLVED AND THEIR EXPERT ORIGINATOR FOUND IT WAS THE BLOWER MOTOR RESISTER PART THAT FAILED CAUSING THE FIRE. FORD IS STILL UNCOOPERATIVE, AND CHANGING THEIR STORY CONSTANTLY. *TR