NHTSA Complaint #769721 — 2000 FORD ECONOLINE

THE VAN SMELLED OF BURNING RUBBER SEVERAL TIMES DURING MY 1000 MILE DEER HUNTING TRIP TO WEST VIRGINIA. I STOPPED AT MY NEPHEW JOHN DAILEY'S HOME (A DEPUTY SHERRIF IN PUTNAM COUNTY WV)TO UNLOAD MY GUNS AND A FEW MAJOR ITEMS. I INFORMED HIM I SMELLED BURNING RUBBER IN MY VAN AND WAS TAKING IT TO THE FORD GARAGE TO BE CHECKED. APPROXIMATELY 1.5 MILES FROM HIS HOME SMOKE BILLOWED FROM BENEATH THE DASH. IT SEEMED TO ORIGINATE UNDER THE DASH APPROXIMATELY HALF WAY ACROSS THE VEHICLE. IT SEEMED TO COME FROM SOMEWHERE BEHIND THE RADIO. I HAD A BAG OF TRASH AND OLD NEWSPAPERS ALONG WITH PAPER BAGS OF BELONGINGS ON THE FLOOR ON THE PASSENGER SIDE, IN THE SEAT AND BEHIND THE PASSENGER SEAT. ALL OF A SUDDEN THE PAPER MATERIALS ON THE FRONT FLOOR WERE ON FIRE AND IT SPREAD QUICKLY ACROSS THE SEAT TO THE REAR COMPARTMENT. I SLOWED THE VEHICLE TO JUMP OUT BUT CARS WERE STOPPED IN THE OTHER LANE. PARENTS HAD PICKED UP CHILDREN FROM SCHOOL AND THE LONG LINE OF VEHICLES WERE FILLED WITH CHILDREN. I WAS AFRAID THE ABANDONED VEHICLE WOULD CONTINUE TO TRAVEL DOWN THE ROAD AND HIT ONE OR MORE OF THE CARS. SO I TRIED TO DRIVE IT OFF THE ROAD TO A SAFE RESTING PLACE BEFORE JUMPING OUT. I JUMPED OUT AS I STEERED IT ACROSS THE DITCH AND UP ON THE BANK BESIDE THE ROAD. IT ROLLED BACKWARDS INTO THE DITCH WERE IT BURNED COMPLETELY. I CONTACTED THE DEALER FROM WHOM I HAD PURCHASED THE VEHICLE JUST A FEW MONTHS EARLIER AND TOLD HIM WHAT HAD HAPPENED. I HOPED FOR A DISCOUNT ON A REPLACEMENT VAN BUT I WAS TREATED RUDELY. UPON THE ADVICE OF AND WITH THE HELP OF THE SERVICE MANAGER I COMPLETED A DEALER REQUEST FOR CONSUMER AFFAIRS REVIEW. I FOLLOWED UP WITH THE DEALER TO AS CERTAIN HE STATUS OF MY REQUEST BUT HE HAS NEVER HAD ANY INFORMATION. TO DATE NOON HAS CONTACTED ME ABOUT THE INCIDENT. ON MY WAS HOME TO FLORIDA I RELAYED MY INCIDEN TO A FEW INDIVIDUALS AT REST AREAS, GAS STATIONS, ETC AND FOUND THREE (3) HAD PERSONAL KNOWLEDGE OF 2000 FORD ECONOLINE VANS THAT HAD BURN