NHTSA Complaint #11173404 — 2014 FORD ESCAPE

ENGINE FIRE DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY THE CAR ENGINE STOPPED AND I COASTED TO THE RIGHT SHOULDER. I MADE PHONE CALLS FOR HELP AND ASSISTANCE. THE NYSDOT, HIGHWAY EMERGENCY LOCAL PATROL (HELP) TRUCK PULLED AFTER ABOUT 15-20 MINUTES AFTER STOPPING. THE HELP OPERATOR LOOKED INSIDE THE ENGINE AND SAW THAT THE COOLANT RESERVOIR WAS LOW AND OFFERED TO PUT SOME COOLANT IN MY VEHICLE FROM A SUPPLY IN HIS TRUCK. THEN HE HAD ME RUN THE ENGINE IN IDLE ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CAR SEEMED TO RUN FINE. IN AN EFFORT TO GET THE CAR OFF OF THE HIGHWAY AND TO GET SOME MORE COOLANT, I DROVE THE CAR TO THE PARKING LOT OF A LOCAL STORE APPROXIMATELY 1.5 MILES. WHEN I PULLED INTO THE PARKING LOT, THE CAR WAS STEAMING UP AGAIN SO I PARKED IT OUT A WAYS FROM THE STORE. I NOTICED THAT THE SMOKE WAS A BIT BLACK AND THICK, SO I OPENED THE HOOD AND SAW THE PLASTIC ENGINE COVER WAS ON FIRE. I STARTED THROWING SNOW ON IT WHEN SOMEONE CAME BY WITH A FIRE EXTINGUISHER, SO I USED IT TO PUT THE FIRE OUT. A TOW TRUCK DRIVER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE CLOSEST FORD DEALER ABOUT 1 MILE FROM THE PARKING LOT.