Feds Probe Ford F-150 Engine Fires

November 24, 2004
Federal regulators have opened an investigation into complaints of engine fires in Ford F-150 pickup trucks and in Expedition and Navigator SUVs.

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The inquiry involves 2000 models of the three vehicles and follows 36 reports of engine fires that may be related to a cruise-control deactivation switch, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said.

The fires occurred while the vehicles were parked and the engine was off, with no accidents or injuries reported, the agency said.

ConsumerAffairs.com has also received numerous complaints about Ford truck engine fires but the complaints are not restricted to 2000 model year vehicles.

Douglas of Sharpsburg, GA, reported that his 1997 F-150 Super Cab burned to the ground while parked outside his home. "Please do not park these trucks in your garage," Douglas cautioned.

Ryan of Cypress, TX, parked his 1997 F-150 outside a Houston fire station, where he works. This turned out to be an appropriate location since the truck burst into flames later that day.

"I heard a booming sound (like a car backfire). I sprung from my chair and looked out the back door of the fire station to see the front of my truck on fire," Ryan said.

"My wife drove it to work, parked it in a parking space and 7 hours later the vehicle burst into flames! Now we have no truck," wrote Douglas of Columbia, SC.