NHTSA Complaint #708646 — 1993 FORD AEROSTAR

WHILE DRIVING SOUTHBOUND ON I-65 IN NASHVILLE, MY HUSBAND AND I BEGAN TO SMELL SMOKE AND THEN SUDDENLY SMOKE BEGAN POURING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN OF OUR 1993 FORD AEROSTAR. AFTER PULLING OVER ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, I REMOVED OUR TWO SMALL CHILDREN WHILE MY HUSBAND ATTEMPTED TO SHUT OFF THE VAN. ALTHOUGH THE VAN WAS IN PARK AND THE KEYS HAD BEEN REMOVED, THE VEHICLE STILL WAS ATTEMPTING TO CRANK ITSELF AND WOULD NOT STOP UNTIL WE PLACED THE VAN IN REVERSE (WITH THE PARKING BRAKE ON) AND UNHOOKED THE BATTERY. A MAN WHO STOPPED TO HELP US ALERTED US TO THE FACT THAT THERE HAD BEEN RECALLS ON THE INGNITION SWITCH OF SEVERAL FORD MODELS WHICH COULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE FIRES. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION AND PEOPLE SHOULD BE ALERTED IN ORDER TO SAVE THEIR LIVES. *AK