NHTSA Complaint #985791 — 1984 FORD SQUIRE

ON OCCASION OWNER SMELLED BURNING ODOR. LATER VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE AFTER PARKED FOR AN HOUR. *AK OVER A PERIOD OF SEVERAL WEEKS PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT CONSUMER SMELLED SOMETHING HOT INSIDE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING, THE SMELL WAS OCCASIONAL , ONCE CONSUMER SAW SEVERAL STRANDS OF SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE TOP OF THE STEERING COLUMN AROUND THE STEERING WHEEL WHILE DRIVING, AS THE PROBLEM SEEMED TO DISAPPEAR CONSUMER KEPT DRIVING, SEVERLA WEEKS LATER CONSUMER WENT OUTSIDE AND DASHBOARD WAS ON FIRE AND THE STEERING COLUMN WAS DESTROYED BY FIRE VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS.*JB