NHTSA Complaint #748627 — 1989 FORD F150

FOR OVER 20 YEARS I HAVE BEEN AN NIASE & ASE MASTER AUTO AND MASTER MEDIUM & HEAVY DUTY TRUCK MECHANIC. AS I AM SURE YOU ARE AWARE, FORD HAS A SERIOUS DESIGN PROBLEM WITH ALTERNATORS SUCH AS THE ONE USED ON THE MODEL YEAR MENTIONED IN THIS COMPLAINT. STARTING JUST AFTER MY ORIGINAL MANUFACTURER WARRANTY RAN OUT, MY ALTERNATOR CAUGHT FIRE. I WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE BEFORE EXTENSIVE DAMAGE OCCURRED. I CARRY A FIRE EXTINGUISHER ON BOARD. I REPAIRED THE FIRE DAMAGE AND REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR WITH A REBUILT UNIT. BETWEEN THEN AND NOW, I HAVE HAD THREE MORE ALTERNATOR FIRES. EACH TIME I WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE BEFORE EXTENSIVE DAMAGE RESULTED. EACH TIME I MADE REPAIRS BRINGING THE VEHICLE BACK TO OEM CONDITION AND INSTALLED ANOTHER REBUILT ALTERNATOR. TWO OF THE FOUR FIRES, I WAS ABLE TO DETERMINE WITHOUT DOUBT THAT THE FIRE STARTED INSIDE THE ALTERNATOR AND NOT IN THE WIRING HARNESS PLUG. IN ADDITION, I HAVE SEEN NUMEROUS OTHER FORD ALTERNATOR FIRES. I GUESS THIS TIME WAS THE STRAW THAT BROKE THE CAMELS BACK AND COMPELLED ME TO MAKE THIS REPORT TO YOU. FORD REALLY NEEDS TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY AND COME OUT WITH A RECALL TO RECTIFY THIS HAZARD TO MOTORISTS. AS I SAID BEFORE, I'M SURE YOU ARE AWARE OF THIS ISSUE. HOWEVER, IF YOU ARE NOT, CONTACT ANY PARTS HOUSE OR FORD MECHANIC AND I'M SURE YOU WILL GET AN EARFUL. I CAN'T IMAGINE HOW MANY BURN JOBS THE INSURANCE INDUSTRY HAS TO ABSORB NOT TO MENTION THE POOR GUY WITHOUT FULL COVERAGE. I HOPE THIS INFORMATION PROVES TO BE USEFUL TO YOU IN OBTAINING A BENEFICIAL RESOLUTION FOR THE CONSUMER. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME IF YOU DESIRE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.*AK