NHTSA Complaint #757924 — 2001 FORD F-250

WE HAD THIS TRUCK INTO A DEALERSHIP 9 DAYS PRIOR TO THE FIRE FOR WHAT WE THOUGHT WERE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS, THE DEALERSHIP FAILED TO FIND ANY PROBLEM WITH OUR TRUCK AND ADVISED US THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THAT PREVENTED US FROM DRIVING IT. 9 DAYS LATER WE WERE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEMS AND FELT THE NEED TO GET ANOTHER OPINION SO WE WERE IN ROUTE TO A DEALERSHIP AND DID NOT MAKE IT DUE TO THE TRUCK FAILING AND CATCHING FIRE. TRANSMISSION FLUID ESCAPED THE FILLER TUBE AND WENT ON THE EHAUST MANIFOLD WHICH CAUSED A FLASH FIRE. WE WERE FORTUNATE TO GET OURSELVES AND OUR SMALL CHILDREN OUT OF THE TRUCK IN TIME. THE DEALERSHIP PRIOR TO THE FIRE SAID THAT IF WE WERE IN FACT HAVING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS THAT WE WOULD HAVE SEEN THE OVERDRIVE LIGHT ON THE SHIFTER COLUMN FLASHING, THIS NEVER OCCURRED WHICH LEADS US TO BELIEVE THAT THERE MAY BE A FAILURE IN THE COMPUTER OF THIS TRUCK THAT THEY REFUSED TO FIND. WE PLEADED WITH THE SERVICE ADVISOR AT THIS DEALERSHIP TO INVESTIGATE WHAT COULD HAVE CAUSED THE PROBLEMS WE WERE EXPERIENCING AND THEY REFUSED. NOW WE HAVE A TRUCK THAT HAS BEEN AT A DEALERSHIP FOR ALMOST 90 DAYS AND THEY HAVE YET TO FIND THE CAUSE OF FIRE. AND DUE TO THE FIRE FORD MOTOR COMPANY REFUSES TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY TO THEIR PRODUCT. THEY DENIED HELPING US AND REFERRED US TO OUR INSURANCE COMPANY. WE HAVE INCURRED A DRASTIC FINANCIAL LOSS DUE TO THIS AND FEAR BEING PUT BACK IN THIS VEHICHLE KNOWING THAT IT COULD HAPPEN AGAIN, BECAUS THE INITIAL CAUSE OF FIRE HAS NOT BEEN FOUND. WE HAVE FAUGHT A HARD FIGHT WITH ALLSTATE INSURANCE TO GET THEM TO FIX OUR TRUCK PROPERLY TO NO AVIAL. WE KNOW OF OTHERS THAT ARE EXPERIENCING SIMILAR PROBLEMS AND WE FEEL FORD NEEDS TO PAY ATTENTION TO THIS MECAHNICAL FAILURE, DUE TO FAULTY PRODUCTION OF THESE TRUCKS WITH THEIR TRANSMISSIONS.*AK