NHTSA Complaint #10839049 — 2015 FORD ESCAPE

I WAS DRIVING AND I'M NOT SURE IF I HIT A PATCH OF ICE OR STEERING FROZE UP. I WAS TRAVELING 35 IN A 40 MPH ZONE AND ON A CURVE, THE VEHICLE VEERED OFF THE ROAD INTO A BOG. THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SINK AND I WAS UNABLE TO OPEN THE DOOR FOR A FEW MINUTES. I TRIED PUTTING THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE TO GET OUT OF THE WATER AND ICE. THEN I NOTICED A FLAME COMING FROM THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE. I PUSHED THE DOOR OPEN AND BEGAN SWIMMING AWAY FROM THE VEHICLE. AS I WAS ABOUT 30 FEET FROM THE VEHICLE, IT EXPLODED. I WAS IN THE WATER AND ICE FOR APPROX. 10 MINUTES. THE FIRE DEPT, POLICE, AND EMT'S ARRIVED AND PULLED ME FROM THE WATER AND TOOK ME TO THE HOSPITAL. I HAVE 2ND DEGREE BURNS ON MY ARM AND LEGS. MY INSURANCE COMPANY HAS DEEMED THE VEHICLE A TOTAL LOSS AND THE ADJUSTER SAID THE ONLY THING THAT COULD BE SALVAGED WAS 1/2 OF MY LICENSE PLATE. I ASKED WHAT COULD HAVE CAUSED THIS AND THE ADJUSTER SAID THAT PERHAPS IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM AND WATER MIXED WITH THE ELECTRICAL PROBLEM MAY HAVE CAUSED THE FIRE. HE DID STATE THAT HE DID NOT KNOW WHAT CAUSED THE FIRE AND EXPLOSION. THE VEHICLE IS SITTING AND I HAVE ASKED THAT IT NOT BE DESTROYED (WHAT'S LEFT OF IT) UNTIL THE CAUSE CAN BE DETERMINED. THIS CONCERNS ME GREATLY BECAUSE I DO NOT WANT THIS TO HAPPEN TO ANYONE ELSE. THE SHOCK IS STARTING TO WEAR OFF AND I KEEP ASKING MYSELF HOW IN THE WORLD A CAR COULD "JUST EXPLODE". PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF ANYONE ELSE HAS HAD ANY PROBLEM LIKE THIS OR IF ANYONE CAN SUGGEST WHAT MAY HAVE CAUSED THIS CATASTROPHE. THANK YOU. *TR