Complaint 533290

Complaint Summary

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Owner Narrative

I BOUGHT A 1992 FORD EXPLORER ON 2-16-05 FROM A PRIVITE PARTY THRU THE NEWSPAPER. ON 04-16-05 I WAS DRIVING TO SOFTBALL PRACTICE ON A BUSY ROAD WHEN A GENTLEMAN NEXT TO ME IN HIS OWN VEHICLE YELLED GET OUT OF YOUR CAR IT IS ON FIRE. HE LET ME TURN IN FRONT OF HIM AND I PULLED IN TO A PARKING SPACE AND GOT OUT OF MY CAR. WITHIN 3 TO 4 MINUTES THE FRONT END OF MY CAR WAS COMPLETLY IN FLAMES. ALL THE WINDOWS BROKE AND THE TIRE POPPED. THE SEAT I WAS SITTING IN ONLY MINUTES BEFORE WAS COMPLETELY IN FLAMES. THE FIREMEN CAME AND PUT THE FIRE OUT. BY THEN MY FORD EXPLORER WAS TOTLED. I WAS VERY LUCKY I DID NOT HAVE MY STEPCHILDREN WITH ME THAT DAY AND I WAS TOLD TO GET OUT OF MY CAR IN TIME FOR MYSELF NOT TO HAVE BEEN HURT. I ONLY HAD LIABILITY INSURANCE ON THE VEHICLE AND MY BELONGINGS WERE BURNT. THERE IS A RECALL ON THE VEHICLE THAT CAN CAUSE SMOKE AND FIRE. I CALLED THE FORD COMPANY AND TOLD THEM WHAT HAPPEND THEY SAID THEY WILL GET BACK TO ME ABOUT THE SITUATION. I RECEIVED A GENERIC LETTER FROM THEM YESTERDAY SAYING THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO TO HELP ME. I FEEL VERY LUCKY IN A SENCE THAT I DID NOT LOSE MY LIFE THAT DAY, BUT ALSO VERY VIOLATED THAT I NOW HAVE TO BUY A NEW CAR AND REPLACE BELONGINGS THAT WERE DESTROYED.

Owner-submitted narrative on file with NHTSA. Complaint narratives are self-reported and have not been verified.