NHTSA Complaint #734789 — 1997 MERCURY MYSTIQUE

I WAS DRYING MY CAR OFF AFTER WASHING IT; THE ENGINE WAS OFF AND THE WIRING UNDER THE HOOD JUST BEYOND THE DASH ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE STARTED SMOKING AND CAUGHT FIRE. AFTER THE FIRE WENT OUT, WHEN I STARTED THE ENGINE, THE WIPERS CAME ON AND WOULD NOT GO OFF UNTIL I REMOVED THE FUSE. ALL PANEL LIGHTS ARE OFF. PREVIOUSLY, ABOUT SIX WEEKS BEFORE THE FIRE EVENT, THE PANEL LIGHTS FUSE BLEW (WHEN IT WAS RAINING) AND I REPLACED IT AND THE PANEL LIGHTS WERE DIM.