NHTSA Complaint #10723002 — 2005 FORD F-150

ON THE MORNING OF MARCH 5TH 2015 I STARTED MY TRUCK TO WARM THE INSIDE AND ALSO MELT THE SNOW OFF MY WINDSHIELD. I GOT IN THE TRUCK AND BACKED OUT AWAY FROM HOUSE. DUE TO HAVING SNOW ON THE DRIVEWAY I TURNED ON THE 4 WHEEL DRIVE IN HIGH. MY FOUR WHEEL DRIVE WOULD NOT WORK SO I TRIED TO SWICTH TO 2 WHEEL DRIVE BACK TO FOUR WHEEL DRIVE BUT THE 4 WHEEL DRIVE WOULD NOT TURN ON. I GRABBED THE GEAR SHIFT TO PUT THE TRUCK BACK IN PARK WHEN I NOTICED MY GEAR SHIFT COULD FLOAT TO PARK TO 1ST GEAR FREELY AND WOULD NOT SHIFT. AT THIS TIME I NOTICED SMOKE STARTING TO COME INSIDE CAB FROM UNDER DASH AND THRU THE VENTS. I JUMPED OUT AND OPENED THE HOOD. A 1 FOOT SECTION OF A WIRING HARNES MOUNTED TO THE FIREWALL HAD CAUGHT FIRE. I MADE ATTEMPTS TO PUT OUT THE FIRE BUT WITHIN A FEW SECONDS THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WAS ENGULFED. IN 2 TO 3 MINUTES THE ENTIRE INSIDE OF THE CAB WAS ALSO COMPLETELY ON FIRE. MY WIFE WHO WAS WATCHING ME IMMEDIATLY CALLED 911 TO GET THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. AFTER 3 MINUTES THE TRUCK WAS ALREADY A TOTAL LOSE. DUE TO THE TRUCK BEING ONLY 60' FROM MY HOUSE AND BURNING SO HOT I WAS CONCERNED ABOUT MY HOUSE CATCHING FIRE. TWO GENTLEMAN FROM THE RESCUE SQUAD ARRIVED BUT IT WAS TOO LATE FOR ANYTHING TO BE DONE. I WAS ABLE TO GET A BACKHOE AND PUT THE FIRE OUT WITH SNOW. UNFORTUNATELY I HAD LIABILITY INSURANCE ONLY WHICH MEANT A TOTAL LOSE. I NEVER DREAMED THAT THE TRUCK WOULD BURN UP SITTING IN MY DRIVEWAY!!!! I KNOW THERE HAVE BEEN SOME RECALLS FOR F150 DUE TO FIRE HAZARDS WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL FOR OTHER YEAR MODEL CLOSE TO 2005. A VEHICLE CATCHING FIRE WHILE ITS SITTING IN A DRIVEWAY RUNNING IS TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE. THE TRUCK WAS IN EXCELLENT SHAPE AND HAD NO AFTER MARKET PARTS OR WORK PERFORMED. I HAVE NO IDEAL WHY THE WIRING HARNESS CAUGHT FIRE.