# 1998 FORD TAURUS — VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:FAN/MOTOR
> NHTSA complaint `140823` · 1999-03-08 · Ford Motor Company
## Severity
- **Deaths:** 0
- **Injured:** 0
- **Fire:** Yes
- **Crash:** No
- **Police report:** No
- **Medical attention:** No
- **Vehicle towed:** No
## Vehicle
- **Make:** FORD
- **Model:** TAURUS
- **Year:** 1998
- **Manufacturer:** Ford Motor Company
- **Component:** VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:FAN/MOTOR
## Narrative
CONSUMER PARKED VEHICLE AT 9:00PM AND PLUGGED IN HEATER BLOCK, USING AN EXTENTION CORD DUE TO LOW TEMPARTURES TO KEEP OIL WARM OVER NIGHT. VEHICLE WAS USED AS A RENTAL CAR AT AIRPORT. CONSUMER BOUGHT VEHICLE IN  NOVEMBER 1998 AT DEALERSHIP-ROEN FORD-715-425-6122--660 N. MAIN ST.  DEALER SAID THERE WAS NO KNOWN CAUSE FOR FIRE, BUT WILL GIVE CONSUMER REPLACEMENT VEHICLE. CONSUMER PLUGGED IN ENGINE BLOCK EMERSION HEATER APPROX. 9PM, 8AM THE NEXT MORNING VEHICLE'S FRONT HAD COMPLETELY MELTED, AND  THE GARAGE WAS SMOKE FILLED. *AK
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*Source: [NHTSA ODI](https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/downloads/) · AI Analytics · CC0 1.0*