NHTSA Complaint #758739 — 2002 FORD F-350

MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING ABOUT 25 MPH ON HIS WAY TO TAKE THE FORD F350 WHICH WAS PURCHASED ON 2-11-02 TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT BECAUSE IT WASN'T RUNNING RIGHT. ABOUT 1.5 MILES FROM HOME, FLAMES SHOT OUT OF THE DEFROSTER VENT INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE, WENT OVER HIS HEAD AND THEN THE SMOKE GOT REALLY BAD. HE HAD ENOUGH TIME TO OPEN THE DOOR, KEEP ONE FOOT ON THE RUNNING BOARD AND ONE ON THE BRAKE TO TRY NOT TO LET THE TRUCK AND TRAILER HE WAS TOWING JACKKNIFE. THE AIRBAG THE BLEW HIS HAND OFF OF THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE TRUCK BURNED. THE TRUCK WAS BURNING AND SMOKING AS HE WAS TRYING TO STOP IT. HE COULDN'T SEE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE AT ALL DURING THIS TIME. HE WAS WATCHING THE LINE ON THE ROAD SO HE KNEW WHERE HE WAS AT. HE WAS ABLE TO GRAB 3 THINGS OUT OF THE BED OF THE TRUCK AND AS A PASSERBY CALLED 911, THEY WATCHED THE ENTIRE TRUCK BURN. THE FRONT TIRES BLEW OFF AND THE RIMS MELTED TO THE GROUND. ALL THAT IS LEFT OF THE VEHICLE IS METAL AND THE REAR TIRES AND REAR AXLE. WE HAVE PICTURES IF YOU WANT TO LOOK AT THEM. WE LOST EVERYTHING INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. WE'VE BEEN TOLD OF 2 POSSIBLE CAUSES, BUT THERE ISN'T ANYTHING LEFT TO EVEN TRY TO HELP DETERMINE THE CAUSE. AS STATED EARLIER, THIS VEHICLE ONLY HAD 1700 MILES ON IT AND IT WAS ONLY 11 DAYS OLD. *AK