# 2000 MERCURY COUGAR — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY
> NHTSA complaint `287686` · 2001-04-20 · 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:** COUGAR
- **Year:** 2000
- **Manufacturer:** Ford Motor Company
- **Component:** ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY
- **Speed:** 60 mph
## Narrative
WHILE DRIVING AT 55-60 MPH CONSUMER TURNED ON AIR CONDITIONER, THEN SMELLED SMOKE. TURNED AIR  CONDITIONER OFF. WENT TO PULL OVER, AND BRAKES HAD FAILED. WHEN VEHICLE CAME TO STOP, CONSUMER OPENED HOOD AND SAW FLAMES. PUT FIRE OUT, AND HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER.  DEALER STATED THAT STARTER HAD CAUSED  FIRE AND REPLACED STARTER.*AK
---
*Source: [NHTSA ODI](https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/downloads/) · AI Analytics · CC0 1.0*