NHTSA Complaint #10621227 — 2002 FORD EXPLORER

WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND FELT A SHARP JERK/PULL TO THE RIGHT. AT FIRST THOUGHT IT WAS A FLAT TIRE SO GOT OFF ON NEXT EXIT. WASN'T A FLAT TIRE BUT COULD SMELL SOMETHING AWFUL. MADE GRINDING SOUND AND STILL HAD BAD SMELL, KNEW WE HAD TO DRIVE IT BACK TO THE PLACE WE ARE STAYING AT. HAD HAZARD LIGHTS ON AND ONLY DROVE 10-15 MPH BECAUSE OF THE SOUND AND BECAUSE OF HOW SCARY IT WAS. KNEW SOMETHING BAD WAS HAPPENING TO OUR CAR. BRAKES AT THIS POINT PRACTICALLY WENT OUT. WOULD NOT HAVE TO PRESS BRAKES TO STOP VEHICLE AT A RED LIGHT, THE CAR WOULD JUST STOP. STEERING WHEEL WAS NOT EVEN, BUT MORE OR LESS 90 DEGREES TO THE RIGHT. PULLED INTO THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND INTO THE DRIVEWAY AND A CAR LEAVING THE STREET SAW THAT OUR VEHICLE AT THIS POINT WAS ON FIRE! EXTINGUISH FIRE (SINCE IT WAS A GAS FIRE) AND LOOKED AT THE DAMAGE. LOOKS LIKE THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WASN'T EVEN CONNECTED TO ANYTHING. DO NOT KNOW HOW OR WHEN FIRE STARTED BUT THE FLAMES WHEN WE NOTICED WERE ABOUT 1 FOOT TALL AND WIDE BY THE INTERNAL DRIVER SIDE WHEEL. *TR