# 1997 MERCURY MYSTIQUE — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
> NHTSA complaint `251995` · 2000-10-20 · Ford Motor Company
## Severity
- **Deaths:** 0
- **Injured:** 0
- **Fire:** Yes
- **Crash:** No
- **Police report:** No
- **Medical attention:** No
- **Vehicle towed:** No
## Vehicle
- **Make:** MERCURY
- **Model:** MYSTIQUE
- **Year:** 1997
- **Manufacturer:** Ford Motor Company
- **Component:** ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
## Narrative
I WAS DRYING MY CAR OFF AFTER WASHING IT; THE ENGINE WAS OFF AND THE WIRING UNDER THE HOOD JUST BEYOND THE DASH ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE STARTED SMOKING AND  CAUGHT FIRE.  AFTER THE FIRE WENT OUT, WHEN I STARTED THE ENGINE, THE WIPERS CAME ON AND WOULD NOT GO OFF UNTIL I REMOVED THE FUSE.  ALL PANEL LIGHTS ARE OFF.  PREVIOUSLY, ABOUT SIX WEEKS BEFORE THE FIRE EVENT, THE PANEL LIGHTS FUSE BLEW (WHEN IT WAS RAINING) AND I REPLACED IT AND THE PANEL LIGHTS WERE DIM.
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*Source: [NHTSA ODI](https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/downloads/) · AI Analytics · CC0 1.0*