MY 1997 ESCORT NOT ONLY HAD DEFECTIVE AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT BUT CAUGHT ON FIRE. MY VEHICLE IS A TOTAL LOSS. HOW RARE IS THIS OCCURANCE? FORD IS ONLY WILLING TO GIVE ME THE TRADE IN VALUE FOR MY VEHICLE NOT THE REPLACEMENT COST. SEEMS LIKE THE CONSUMER IS THE LOSER AGAIN. I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OF THIS RECALL. MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING THE CAR AND COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED WHEN THE BAGS DEPLOYED AND THE DASH WAS ALREADY ON FIRE. THE FIRE WAS SO SEVERE IT SHATTERED THE WINDSHIELD AND MELTED THE ENTIRE DASH. *LA