Vehicle fire of Ford Expedition - total loss.

- Rice Lake, , WI, USA

: the contact stated while the vehicle was parked in the driveway with the ignition turned off, flames erupted from underneath the hood and engine compartment area without warning. The fire department was alerted, and extinguished the fire. The police were also alerted, and a report was taken. There was extensive fire damage; an insurance adjustor deemed the vehicle a total loss. The manufacturer was not alerted.

- Thomasville, GA, USA

1) noticed in mid may that the cruise control on my 1999 Ford Expedition stopped working. No other performance issues were noticed and since it was not critical it was not repaired at that time. 2) on July 27, 2005 the 1999 Ford Expedition caught on fire and burned. The fire chief on site indicated that the fire started in the area of the master cylinder, where the speed control deactivation switch is located. 3) my insurance company, usaa is in the process of investigating the cause of the fire and I am awaiting information from them. I have not contacted Ford at this time.

- Houston, TX, USA

I have a '99 Ford Expedition and I developed a problem where I lost the brake and turn signal lights in my car. I replaced the fused and it immediately popped again. So I took it to my mechanic, and he looked at it. There was brake fluid up in the cruise control switch, all the way up in the cable harness (in the wires), and in the connector at the junction/fuse box. When he removed the cruise control switch, he discovered that the cruise control switch was the new switch and it sparked and it caught fire. Luckily the flame was contained to just the switch and the mechanic was able to cut the switch out of the car and blow it out before the fire spread. He told me the car had to go to Ford and he suggested that I not drive it, as it was a fire hazard. So it was towed. The Ford dealership got in and investigated and they determined that I needed a whole new cabling harness because of melted wires and brake fluid contamination and that the price was going to be $500 and a new cruise control switch and fuses. I instructed Ford to go ahead with the repairs and to save all of the old parts. Ford said that because the cruise control switch had already been replaced, this vehicle was not subject to the recall despite the entire list of other coincidental failures that could have led to a fire and possible loss of life. I have no doubt that had the old switch still been in place, there would have been a fire already. As things were, my mechanic joe taylor, at taylor's automotive said it was just a matter of time before this one would go up.

- Pflugerville, TX, USA

Spouse woke up to glass popping, ran out of house, and saw garage completely engulfed in flames - one week prior to vehicle fire turn signals and hazard lights would not work - blown fuse and replaced it. Cruise control would jerk while activated.

- Houston, TX, USA

While vehicle was parked for 1 hour a fire started under the hood. Vehicle was totaled. Dealership was notified, but did not resolve the problem.

- Columbus, GA, USA

After vehicle was parked for 3 hours a fire started under the hood. Vehicle was totaled. Dealership was notified, but did not resolve the problem.

- Opa-Locka, FL, USA

At the end of October fuse to the brake lights blew out. Replaced fuse, and saw smoke coming from under hood. Removed fuse, and opened hood to find source of smoke, it was the brake switch on top of the master cylinder. Took it to dealership, who reported that they replaced the switch. 3 weeks later vehicle was parked in driveway for 1 hour after driving for.5 hours and it caught on fire. Also, house caught on fire. The fire was in the engine compartment. The hole in the hood was centered on the driver's side near the middle. Insured by progressive.

- Metairie, LA, USA

Vehicle vibration at speeds of 65 mph or higher. Burning smells coming from under hood and vehicle smoke from under hood.

- Hazel Green, AL, USA