NHTSA Complaint #11229017 — 2013 FORD ESCAPE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2013 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE TEMPERATURE WAS INDICATING THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OVERHEATING. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER AND THE CONTACT SAW SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE CONTACT OPENED THE HOOD AND SAW FLAMES COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE ENTIRE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES BEFORE THE FIRE DEPARTMENT COULD ARRIVE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED BUT THE CONTACT WAS UNSURE IF A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED AS WELL. THERE WERE NO INJURIES SUSTAINED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED BY THE CONTACT'S INSURANCE COMPANY. THE CONTACT CALLED A DEALER (JENKINS & WYNNE FORD, HONDA, & LINCOLN 2655 TRENTON RD, CLARKSVILLE, TN 37040 (931) 542-4886) AND WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FIRE. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT TO CALL THE MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT A WRITTEN RESPONSE WOULD BE RECEIVED IN THE MAIL. TWO WEEKS LATER, THE MANUFACTURER CALLED THE CONTACT AND REQUESTED THE INSURANCE COMPANY TO FILE A REPORT WITH THEM IN REGARDS TO THE RECALLS THAT WERE ON THE VIN. THERE WERE A TOTAL OF 5 NHTSA RECALLS ASSOCIATED TO THE VIN AT THE TIME IT CAUGHT FIRE. THE ONE RECALL UNDER THE VIN THAT MAY BE RELATED TO THE VEHICLE CATCHING FIRE WAS NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 13V584000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,000.