# 1998 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
> NHTSA complaint `283709` · 2001-03-19 · 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:** GRAND MARQUIS
- **Year:** 1998
- **Manufacturer:** Ford Motor Company
- **Component:** ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
- **Speed:** 65 mph
## Narrative
WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 65 MPH, BLACK TOXIC SMOKE SUDDENLY STARTED BELLOWING OUT FROM AROUND THE RADIO AREA IN THE CENTER DASHBOARD. A LOUD RAPID CLICKING SOUND WAS ALSO HEARD.  UPON REALIZING WHAT WAS GOING ON, I STEERED THE CAR SAFELY OFF THE HIGHWAY RAMP AND SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF. I INSPECTED THE ENGINE UNDER THE HOOD AND FOUND NOTHING WRONG.  UPON A 15 MIN SHUTDOWN I RESTARTED THE ENGINE AND BOTH THE SMOKE AND CLICKING SOUND HAD CEASED SO I DROVE THE CAR TO THE DEALER. ON 28 DEC 00 THE MERCURY DEALER ONLY REMOVED THE RADIO AND GLOVEBOX AND NOTED NOTHING ABNORMAL. AS A CONSUMER I AM NOT SATISFIED, THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED.*AK
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*Source: [NHTSA ODI](https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/downloads/) · AI Analytics · CC0 1.0*