1996 Ford F-150 Electrical System

The contact owns a 1996 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at unknown speeds, the speedometer became inoperable. The driver was unable to accurately determine the speed. There were no warning lights illuminated. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 218,000.

TRUCK WAS DRIVEN THEN PARKED, 15 MINUTES LATER WHILE MOWING THE GRASS, I LOOKED OVER AT THE PARKED TRUCKAND IT WAS ON FIRE. THE FIRE STARTED AT THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER AND IT WAS A TOTAL LOSS.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1996 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE AND THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

TL* - THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A FIRE UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. THE CONTACT CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, BY THE TIME THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED THE ENGINE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT STATED THAT THE FIRE HAD TO DO WITH SOMETHING ELECTRICAL UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT STATED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR CONTACTS VEHICLE, BUT CONTACT STATED HE NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE. *AK

1998 F-150 SITTING IN YARD - FIRE STARTED IN FRONT OF TRUCK - JUST PURCHASED IN OCT. 05. NEVER RECEIVED ANY NOTICES ON RECALL . *NM

DT: THE CONSUMER OWNS A 1996 FORD F150. HE RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER REGARDING THE SCDS ON 10-06-05. THE CONSUMER WAS IN THE PROCESS OF MOVING TO MAINE. ON 10-13-05 THE TRUCK CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE PARKED OUTSIDE IN THE DRIVEWAY. THE CONSUMER HAD NOT BEEN ABLE TO TAKE THE TRUCK TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THE SCDS DISCONNECTED. THE FIRE ORIGINATED FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE CONSUMER TOOK PICTURES OF THE TRUCK. THE TRUCK WAS NOT DRIVABLE. THE CONSUMER LIVED IN A RURAL AREA IN WHICH HE PUT OUT THE FIRE HIMSELF. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT DID NOT HAVE TO BE CALLED. T HE POLICE DID NOT RESPOND. THE CONSUMER REPORTED SOMETHING SMELLED LIKE PLASTIC BURNING FOR THE PAST MONTH AND HALF PRIOR TO THE FIRE. THE TRUCK WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC IN WEST VIRGINIA, HIS PREVIOUS RESIDENCE, AND THE MECHANIC COULD NOT FIND THE ORIGIN OF THE SMELL. THE CONSUMER REPORTED NO OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THE TRUCK. THE INSURANCE COMPANY WAS INFORMED ABOUT THE FIRE AND THEY HAD NOT CALLED THE CONSUMER BACK. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED FORD AT A TOLL FREE NUMBER AND THEY TOLD THE CONSUMER THAT CONSUMER AFFAIRS WOULD BE CONTACTING HIM WITHIN SEVEN TO TEN DAYS. THE CONSUMER HAD NOT HEARD FROM FORD. *AK (11/17/05) RECALL CAMPAIGN # EA05005. *SC

HAVE A 1996 FORD F-150 W/CRUISE CONTROL. IT WAS PARKED IN THE YARD AND STARTED ON FIRE. VEHICLE A TOTAL LOSS. I WAS OUT OF STATE AT THE TIME. *NM

DT:04/10/05. VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE IN DRIVEWAY OF RESIDENCE. CONTACT DOES NOT KNOW WHAT CAUSED THE FIRE OR WHERE IT BEGAN. MOSTLY BURNT ON THE LEFT SIDE, BLEW LEFT FRONT TIRE. CONTACT IS NOT SURE IF IT WAS ELECTRICAL OR FUEL FIRE.*AK REGULARLY SERVICED WITH SERVICE RECORDS AVAILABLE.

13-21 AUG TRUCK WAS PARKED IN DRIVEWAY WHILE WE VISITED FAMILY IN SOUTH CAROLINA. TRUCK NOT DRIVEN. DROVE TRUCK 22 AUG TO WORK APPROX. 12.5 MILES. TRUCK WAS PARKED IN PARKING LOT UNTIL 4PM WHEN I DROVE IT HOME. TRUCK WAS PARKED IN DRIVEWAY FROM 4:30 PM UNTIL THE FIRE WAS DISCOVERED BETWEEN 8:30 AND 9:00 PM. I DO NOT KNOW WHEN THE FIRE STARTED AND I HAVE HAD NO PROBLEMS AT ALL WITH THE TRUCK AND I DO NOT KNOW WHAT STARTED THE FIRE. BUT I BELIEVE THE HOTEST PART OF THE FIRE WAS ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE ENGINE NEAR THE TOP WHERE MOST OF THE DESTRUCTION WAS LOCATED.

DT: THE CONTACT OWNED A 1996 FORD F150 XLT. A FIRE OCCURRED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE FIRE WAS FIRST NOTICED COMING UP THROUGH THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT OPERATING ANY DIFFERENTLY THAN BEFORE THE FIRE OCCURRED. THE CONSUMER'S HUSBAND IS A MECHANIC AND SAID IT HAD BURNED THE WIRING HARNESS, AND WAS STARTING IN THE BRAKE PRESSURE SWITCH. NHTSA INVESTIGATION EA05005. *AK *SC

AT ABOUT 4 A.M. ON JULY 16, 2005; MY 1996 FORD F150 STARTED TO BURN AFTER HAVING BEEN PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY FOR SEVERAL HOURS. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS DISPATCHED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE, BUT THE TRUCK WAS A TOTAL LOSS. THE FIRE CHIEF INDICATED THAT IT LOOKED LIKE AN ELECTRICAL FIRE THAT STARTED ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. I WAS AWARE OF THE CRUISE SWITCH RECALL ON THE 2000-2001 FORD TRUCKS, BUT DID NOT REALIZE THAT MY TRUCK COULD ALSO BE AFFECTED BY THIS BECAUSE IT HAD THE SAME CRUISE CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH.

MY 1996 FORD F-150 CAUGHT ON FIRE AND BURNED, TOTALING OUT THE PICKUP AND CAUSING EXTENTSIVE DAMAGE TO OUR HOUSE AND DRIVEWAY. *AK

I SAW ON THE NEWS THE RECALL FOR 2000-2001 MODEL FORD 150 TRUCK, THE TRUCKS ARE CATCHING ON FIRE WHILE SITTING FOR HOURS. MY HUSBAND HAD A 1996 FORD 150- THAT DID THE SAME THING SITTING IN THE DRIVEWAY. THE TRUCK SIT THERE FOR 8 HOURS THEN CAUGHT ON FIRE AT 1:00 AM. THAT MORNING WHILE WE WERE IN BED. A FRIEND THAT WAS GETTING OFF WORK STOPPED AND WAKE US UP OUT OF BED. WAS IS THERE NOT A RECALL ON THIS YEAR OF TRUCK. WE HAVE A FIRE MARSHALL COME OUT AND LOOK AT IT. IT WAS STARTED ALONG THE FIREWALL. WE HAD TO HAVE THE FIRE DEPT COME AND PUT OUT THE FIRE. WE CONTACTED FOR AND THEY SAID MORE LESS SORRY ABOUT YOUR LUCK. *JB

1996 FORD F150 FUSE BLOWN # 13 (IN DASH) BRAKE LIGHT FAILURE; SPEED CONTROL ASSOCIATED SENSORS. LOCAL FORD DEALER SERVICED 9-27-04 @ $510.30 TO DIAGNOSE SITUATION AND REMEDIED BY REPLACING THE WHOLE MASTER CYLINDER WHERE IT WAS OBVIOUS THAT THE SWITCH FROM THE SPEED CONTROL ON THIS BRAKE UNIT WAS BURNT. ADDITIONAL REMEDY WAS TO DISCONNECT THE WIRING HARNESS THAT CONTROLS THE SPEED CONTROL RENDERING MY HORN USELESS AS WELL. THE MALE HARNESS CONNECTOR IS PRESENTLY TAPED AS I WAS INSTRUCTED THAT HOOKING IT BACK UP WOULD CREATE THIS SAME FIRE HAZARD CONDITION. THEREFORE, I HAVE NO HORN AND MY SPEED CONTROL ISN'T WORKING EITHER. THE FUSE HASN'T BLOWN AND I DO HAVE BRAKE LIGHTS. ( PA REQUIRES THAT THE HORN WORK TO PASS SAFETY INSPECTION ) THE BRAKING SYSTEM DID NOT FAIL ME AT ANY TIME OTHER THAN THIS ELECTRICAL PROBLEM (BLOWN FUSE) AND THE CHANGING OF THE MECHANICAL/HYDROLOGICS WAS NOT WARRANTED.*JB

ON SEPTEMBER 2, 2004, THE 1996 FORD F150 WAS PARKED IN FRONT OF THE HOUSE AND CAUGHT FIRE UNDER THE HOOD. THE TULSA FIRE DEPARMENT CAME AND PUT OUT THE FIRE. THEY REPORTED IT APPEARED TO BE ELECTRICAL AND UNDER THE HOOD

MY SONS TRUCK 1996 FORD F150 CAUGHT FIRE SITTING IN THE DRIVEWAY IT HAD BEEN SITTING THERE A LITTLE OVER TWO HOURS. IT STARTED ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE UNDER THE HOOD. THE TRUCK IS TOTALED, MY SOFIC AND GUTTER WAS DESTROYED MY GARAGE. MY 2005 CAR-MATE TRAILER HAS HEAT DAMAGE ON THE FRONT OF IT AND DESTROYED MY NEIGHBORS FENCE AND BUSHES. *NM

WHILE I WAS CHECKING THE OIL IN MY TRUCK THE CRUISE CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH BURST INTO FLAMES. I NEVER USE THE CRUISE CONTROL SO I NEVER REALLY THOUGHT ABOUT IT UNTIL I NOTICED THERE WERE SOME RECALLS FOR THIS ISSUE BUT NOT FOR MY MODEL YEAR. LUCKILY I HAD THE HOOD UP LOOKING AT SOMETHING ELSE WHEN IT HAPPENED SO ONLY THE PLASTIC ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR WAS DESTROYED. TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM I REPLACED THE SWITCH AND JUST LEFT IT DISCONNECTED. I NO LONGER HAVE THE SWITCH THAT MALFUNCTIONED. I CANNOT BE SURE ABOUT THE INCIDENT DATE OR PURCHASE DATE, BUT I HAVE GIVEN AN APPROXIMATE ESTIMATE FOR EACH.

THE TRUCK CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE SITTING IN THE DRIVEWAY FOR AN HOUR AND 45 MINUTES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE FIRE STARTED UNDER THE HOOD WHICH WAS CAUSED BY AN ELECTRICAL SWITCH FAILURE. THE TRUCK WAS TOTALED. *AK *SC *JB

2ND INCIDENT CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON, HORN NOT WORKING CRUISE CONTROL MODUEL NOT WORKING, STEERING COLUMN CAUGHT FIRE. REMOVEED SHORTED POWER FEED TO CRUISE CONTROL. 1ST INCIDENT-ABS LIGHT AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON. SHIFTER WILL NOT COME OUT OF PARK. NEEDED TO TOW VEHICLE, AND REPAIR BLOWN FUSE ON CRUISE CONTROL

WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED FOR 3 HOURS A FIRE STARTED UNDER THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK *SC *JB

1996 FORD F150 PICKUP EXPLODED INTO A BALL OF FIRE WITH IGNITION OFF. TRUCK HAD NOT BEEN DRIVEN FOR APPROXIMATELY ONE MONTH.*AK

OUR TRUCK CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AT 4:00 IN THE MORNING. THERE WAS NO AFTER MARKET WIRING DONE ON THE TRUCK. WE BOUGHT THE TRUCK NEW, AND HAVE NEVER HAD ANY TROUBLE WITH IT. THIS WAS NOT AN INSURANCE JOB. WE TOOK OUR FULL COVERAGE OFF OF IT WHEN WE BOUGHT OUR CAR. THE TRUCK IS AVAILABLE FOR AN INVESTIGATION.*AK

AFTER VEHICLE WAS PARKED FOR ONE DAY A FIRE STARTED UNDER THE HOOD. THE FIRE WAS PUT OUT. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

THE TRUCK CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE PARKED. DRIVER CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. NO INJURIES REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND TOTALED. *AK

WHILE BEING PARKED VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE CAUSE OF THIS WAS STILL UNDETERMINED.*AK