NHTSA Complaint #724026 — 1997 FORD EXPEDITION

ON 4-12-2000 I WAS DRIVING TO CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL WITH MY WIFE AND DAUGHTER. WE WERE N/B ON I-5, AT 60 MPH IN THE SEATTLE. I ATTEMPTED TURN ON THE RADIO AND PUSHED THE BUTTON. NOTHING HAPPENED FOR A COUPLE OF MINUTES AND THEN SMOKE CAME OUT OF THE RADIO. THE SMOKE STARTED TO FILL THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT . I WAS AFRAID THE DASHBOARD AREA WAS ABOUT TO CATCH FIRE. I MANAGED TO FIND A EXIT TO GET OFF THE FREEWAY, STOPPED THE CAR AND GET MY FAMILY OUT. I TURNED OFF THE IGNITION HOWEVER THE SMOKE WAS STILL COMING OUT OF THE RADIO. THE SMOKE STOPPED ABOUT 1 OR 2 MINUTES LATER. I CALLED BOWEN SCARFF FORD IN KENT AND WAS REFERRED TO SOUND ON WHEELS FOR RADIO REPAIR. THE MANAGER AT SOUND ON WHEELS PULLED THE RADIO FROM THE DASH AND SHOWED ME THE WATER DAMAGE ON THE RADIO AND COXIAL ANTENNA WIRE LEADING FROM THE ANTENNA TO THE BACK OF THE RADIO. WHEN THE WATER GOT INTO THE BACK OF THE RADIO A SHORT WAS CAUSED AND THE SMOKE STARTED. I WAS TOLD THIS WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE 97 FORD EXPEDITION. I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO BOWEN SCARFF FORD AND WAS INFORMED A TECH MEMO HAD BEEN PUT OUT TO FORD MECHANIC BUT NOTHING HAD BEEN SENT TO FORD OWNERS OF EXPEDITION. WHAT I EXPERIENCE WAS A SAFETY ISSUE. I COULD HAVE PANIC AND CAUSE A MAJOR ACCIDENT ON A FREEWAY AT HIGH SPEEDS. I BELIEVE THIS TYPE OF SHORT COULD CAUSE A MAJOR MALFUNCTION OF THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. COULD THE DOORS LOCK, TRAPPING PEOPLE INSIDE? MOST DEATHS RELATED TO FIRE OCCURE FROM INHALING SMOKE. THESE WERE SOME TO THE THINGS GOING THROUGH MY MIND WHILE ATTEMPTING TO GET MY FAMILY TO SAFETY. WHY HAS THERE NOT BEEN A RECALL TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. HOW MANY MUST BE INJURED OR KILLED BEFORE A RECALL. NONE I PRAY. *AK