# 1997 FORD ESCORT — VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE
> NHTSA complaint `352865` · 2002-01-17 · Ford Motor Company
## Severity
- **Deaths:** 0
- **Injured:** 0
- **Fire:** Yes
- **Crash:** No
- **Police report:** No
- **Medical attention:** No
- **Vehicle towed:** No
## Vehicle
- **Make:** FORD
- **Model:** ESCORT
- **Year:** 1997
- **Manufacturer:** Ford Motor Company
- **Component:** VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE
## Narrative
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED PASSENGER COMPARTMENT FIRE, IT APPEARS TO HAVE STARTED AT THE IGNITION SWITCH, CONSUMER SUSPECTS THE FIRE WAS DUE TO A PRIOR COLLISION, HOWEVER AN INSPECTOR STATED THE HEATER CORE WAS LEAKING INTO THE ECS MODULE, THIS CAUSED A SHORT IN THE WIRING HARNESS, THUS CAUSING THE FIRE, CLAIM 40-2188-822.   *SLC
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*Source: [NHTSA ODI](https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/downloads/) · AI Analytics · CC0 1.0*