I TURNED THE AIR CONDITIONING ON IN THE VAN AND AFTER ABOUT 10 MINUTES, TURNED IT TO THE 'MAX AC' POSITION. THE HOOD STARTED STEAMING SO I TURNED THE AIR COMPLETELY OFF. AFTER LESS THAN A MINUTE, I NOTICED THE HOOD WAS SMOKING SO I PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD IMMEDIATELY. I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND EXITED THE VAN AND SAW THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE HOOD WAS ON FIRE. I RAN TO THE PASSENGER SIDE AND OPENED THE SLIDING DOOR, AND GOT MY 18 MONTH OLD AND 4 YEAR OLD OUT OF THE VEHICLE. AFTER WE WERE ALL A SAFE DISTANCE AWAY I SAW THAT MOST OF THE HOOD OF THE VAN WAS IN FLAMES. BY THE TIME THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED ABOUT 5 MINUTES LATER, THE ENTIRE HOOD WAS ON FIRE WITH A LOT OF BLACK SMOKE. THE ENTIRE ENGINE COMPARTMENT LOOKS CHARRED AND PARTIALLY MELTED. THE VEHICLE IS BEYOND REPAIR. I'M THANKFUL MY CHILDREN ARE SAFE BUT I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY (FAILURE) OF THIS VEHICLE. *TR
2000
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
HAD VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE RECALLS. RECALLS MET THE REQUIREMENTS TO REPLACE THE SUBFRAME ASSY; HOWEVER, IT WAS REPAIRED INSTEAD. CONTACTED FORD ABOUT MY CONCERN OVER HOW IT WAS BEING FIXED AND WAS TOLD THAT THE DEALER WAS GIVEN INFO. ON HOW TO DO THE REPAIR AND IF THERE WAS ANY PROBLEM AFTER IT WAS FIXED, I WOULD HAVE TO TAKE IT UP WITH THE DEALER BECAUSE IT WOULD BE A WARRANTY ISSUE WITH THEM, THAT FORD WOULD NOT HELP ME. NOW AFTER PICKING UP THE VEHICLE, THE A/C NO LONGER WORKS. - IT BLEW COLD AIR BEFORE THEY GOT IT. *KB