NHTSA Complaint #11577362 — 2014 FORD ESCAPE

The contact owned a 2014 Ford Escape. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for a service appointment which included a system scan and replacement of the coolant valves. The contact stated that after the repair was completed and the mechanic was test-driving the vehicle, the engine caught on fire. A nearby Police Officer alerted the mechanic to pull the vehicle over to the shoulder of the road because the vehicle was on fire. The mechanic drove the vehicle to the shoulder of the road and exited the vehicle. The Police Officer extinguished the fire by using a fire extinguisher that was in the trunk of the officer's vehicle. No injuries were sustained. The vehicle was towed back to the independent mechanic. The contact was informed that the cause of the fire was the engine and the engine coolant. The vehicle was destroyed due to the fire. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 65,000.