NHTSA complaint: 1994 FORD EXPLORER — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
LEAVES/PINE NEEDLES/DUST, ETC. COLLECTS IN AIR INTAKE; RESISTOR ON BLOWER MOTOR IGNITES MATERIAL. WHEN MATERIAL REACHES HIGH ENOUGH TO CONTACT RESISTOR. NO WAY FOR AVERAGE CONSUMER TO CLEAN OUT MATERIAL. DEALER IN HOUSTON HAD TO REMOVE PARTS, INCLUDING A METAL COWLING TO CLEAN OUT MATERIAL. HEAVY SMOKE FILLED PASSENGER COMPARTMENT WITH MY WIFE, BABY AND I INSIDE. I SMELLED BURNING LEAVES ABOUT 3 MINUTES AFTER STARTING CAR, BUT IN HOUSTON, THE SMELL IS NOT UNCOMMON. AFTER ABOUT 5 MINUTES, I NOTICED SMOKE. ABOUT 1 MINUTE LATER, I STOPPED, SHUT OFF THE CAR, AND EXTINGUISHED THE SMOKE. DIDN'T WAIT TO SEE FLAMES. THE DEALER THEN CLEANED OUT THE MATERIAL, BUT SAID NO RECALLS HAD BEEN ISSUED, DESPITE THE RECENT NEWS STORIES AND ADMISSION OF THE PROBLEM. *AK
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — Office of Defects Investigation