THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING DOWN A RURAL HIGHWAY. A SUDDEN JERK WAS FELT AND THEN 'ENGINE FAILURE' APPEARED ON THE DISPLAY. THE CAR BEGAN TO SMOKE AND WITHIN SECONDS THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WAS FULLY ENGULFED. IT WAS LATER LEARNED THAT THIS VEHICLE HAD A RECALL RELATED TO A DEFECT THAT HAS CAUSED SEVERAL SIMILAR CASES. THIS RECALL NOTICE WAS NEVER RECEIVED BY US, THEREFORE WENT UNFIXED. THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN WORKED ON BY A CERTIFIED FORD DEALERSHIP SINCE THE RECALL AND THE RECALL WENT UNNOTICED THERE AS WELL.