1996 Ford F-250 Electrical System Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD F250. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS OFF AND THE KEY WAS OUT OF THE IGNITION WHEN THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE WHO STATED THAT THE FIRE STARTED UNDER THE HOOD FROM A WIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.

1996 F-250 CAUGHT FIRE IN MY DRIVEWAY WHILE ON VACATION, AND AFTER NOT BEING USED FOR 4 DAYS. FIRE INVESTIGATORS DETERMINED THE FIRES CAUSE AND ORIGIN TO BE THE SPEED DEACTIVATION SWITCH WHICH I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE TO HAVE REPAIRED. NOTICE WAS REC'D IN LATE AUGUST 2006, APPOINTMENT MADE FOR OCTOBER 11 2006 AND TRUCK BURNED OCTOBER 8 2006. FORD QUALITY CONTROL STATES THEY CAN DO THE INVESTIGATION THRU PICTURES E- MAILED TO CORP. HEADQUARTERS, THEN STATES AFTER SEEING THE PICTURES THAT THE TRUCK IS TOO BADLY DAMAGED TO DETERMINE FIRE CAUSE AND DENIES THE CLAIM. PLEASE HELP ME. *NM

I HAD RAISED MY HOOD TO CHECK THE OIL, AND THERE WAS SMOKE FROM THE CRUISE CONTROL SHUT OFF SWITCH LOCATED AT THE END OF THE MASTER CYLINDER. IT CONTINUED TO SMOKE AND BURN UNTIL I UNPLUGGED IT. IT WAS NEARLY ON FIRE. THE BODY OF THE SWITCH IS MELTED AND BURNED. WHEN I WENT TO FORD DEALER ON 4/17/06 FOR A REPLACEMENT PART, THE PARTS MANAGER THOUGHT THAT THIS MIGHT BE PART OF THE RECALL THAT IS IN FORCE FOR THE F-150. THE SERVICE MANAGER CHECKED, AND IT DOES NOT APPLY TO THE F-250. THIS IS DISTURBING TO ME, BECAUSE THE SWITCH IS THAT SAME FOR EITHER VEHICLE. *NM

WHILE PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY MY FORD F-250 WITH TWO GAS TANKS BURST INTO FLAMES AND TOTALED THE PICKUP. FORTUNATELY, THE TRUCK WAS BACKED INTO THE DRIVE WAY BECAUSE OTHERWISE THE HOUSE WOULD HAVE BURNED DOWN AND THE HOTWATER HEATER WOULD HAVE BEEN IGNITED. AS IT WAS, WE WERE LUCKY THAT THE FIRE AND POLICE DEPARTMENTS RESPONDED SO QUICKLY AND PREVENTED THE GAS TANKS FROM EXPLODING. BOTH LANES ON HWY 412 WERE SHUT DOWN, MANY PEOPLE GATHERED , ETC. THE MEDIA WAS THERE TAKING PICTURES. I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS MAYBE A WIRING DEFECT THAT COULD BE A COMMON PROBLEM IN OTHER FORD PICKUPS. I ALSO OWN A FORD F-360 DIESEL. I THINK THE PROBLEM SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED TO AVOID HAVING POSSIBLE FATALITIES. I HAVE INSURANCE, HOWEVER, IT WILL NOT PUT ME BACK WHERE I WAS. THE VEHICLE WAS EXTREMELY WELL MAINTAINED AND I PLANNED TO RETAIN IT FOR 20 OR MORE YEARS. MY CHILDREN WERE HOME, WHEN A PASSERBY POUNDED ON THE DOOR HYSTERICALLY TO TELL THEM THAT THE PICKUP WAS ON FIRE AND COULD BE A BOMB. MY 18 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER GOT THE OTHER CHILDREN OUT AND PHONED 911. THEN, SHE WENT BACK IN TO WAKE THE INDIVIDUAL WHO LIVES IN OUR BASEMENT AS SHE HEAR EXPLOSIONS. (THE FRONT TIRES EXPLODED AND IT COULD HAVE BEEN MUCH WORSE.) PLEASE INVESTIGATE AND LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU FIND OUT! THANK YOU, [XXX]. *AK INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

AFTER LEAVING VEHICLE PARKED OVERNIGHT, NEXT DAY VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE EVEN BEFORE CONSUMER GOT CLOSE TO VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.*AK

2 DEFECTIVE WIRES WHICH GO OVER THE HEATER CORE SHORT CIRCUITED AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STALL UNEXPECTEDLY AND WITHOUT WARNING. THIS COULD CAUSE A CRASH. *AK

STARTER HAS BEEN REPLACED 4 TIMES. VEHICLE ONCE ROLLED IN DRIVEWAY THROUGH THE GARAGE / WITHOUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION AND BRAKES ON. DEALER KEPT REPLACING IT, BUT COULDN'T REMEDY PROBLEM. *AK

CONSUMER STATED THE FACTORY INSTALLED WIRING HARNESS WHICH IS COMING OUT OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT FUSE BOX BEGAN HAVING ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WHICH WAS CAUSING THE TURN SIGNAL AND BRAKE LIGHTS TO BE INOPERATIVE.*JB