NHTSA Complaint #986209 — 1988 FORD TEMPO

CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE IN IGNITION SWITCH. CAR WAS TOTALED. *AK CONSUMER STATES APPROXIMATELY 2 BLOCKS FROM HOME CONSUMER SMELLED SMOKE AND THEN SAW SMOKE COMING UP FROM THE STEERING COLUMN, WENT APPROXIMATELY 100 TO 125 FEET STOPPED, HEARD A POPPING SOUND TURNED OFF KEY SAT IN VEHICLE FOR ABOUT 2 MINUTES NOTHING HAPPENED, CONSUMER WENT TO A HOME ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF STREET TO CALL LOCAL FORD GARAGE, A FEW MINUTES LATER THE NEIGHBOR INFORMES CONSUMER THAT SMOKE WAS COMING OUT OF DOOR AND WENT BACK TO PHONE TO INFORM GARAGE THAT HIS VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE THE CAUSE WAS THE IGNITION SHORTED OUT IN WHICH THERE WAS AN IGNITION SWITCH RECALL ACCORDING TO DEALER BUT CONSUMER STATES HE WAS NEVER INFORMED.*JB