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1996 FORD EXPLORER — SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:POWER ADJUST

fire1 injured · 481321 · 2004-06-24

Vehicle

Make
FORD
Model
EXPLORER
Year
1996
Manufacturer
Ford Motor Company
Component
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:POWER ADJUST
Miles at failure
120,000

Severity

Deaths
0
Injured
1
Fire
Yes
Crash
No
Police report
No
Medical attention
No
Vehicle towed
No

Narrative

MY FAMILY DROVE TO A STORE (6/21/04) AND LEFT OUR 1996 FORD EXPLORER IN THE PARKING LOT FOR APPROXIMATELY ONE HOUR. WHEN WE RETURNED THE FRONT OF THE CAB WAS FILLED WITH SMOKE. WE STARTED TRYING TO FIND WHAT SMELLED SO BAD, AND WHAT WAS SMOKING. MY HUSBAND REALIZED THE SMOKE WAS COMING FROM UNDER THE DRIVERS SEAT. HE WAS ABLE TO MOVE THE SEAT UP (ELECTRONIC) AND AFTER BURNING HIS FINGER HE WAS ABLE TO UNPLUG THE SIX WAY SEAT ADJUSTMENT MOTOR. WHEN WE CALLED FORD THEY WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING, BUT DID SAY THEY WOULD CHARGE US $72 TO DIAGNOSE WHAT WAS WRONG. IT IS EVIDENT THE ELECTRONIC MOTOR HAD CAUGHT FIRE AND HAS A HOLE BURNED THROUGH THE SIDE OF IT. IF WE HAD NOT RETURNED TO OUR SUV WE WOULD NOW HAVE ASHES, AS THE ELECTRIC POWER IS A CONSTANT FEED. I CONTACTED FORD, IN MICHIGAN, WITH THIS MATTER. I WAS TOLD ON 6/24/04 THAT I WOULD NEED TO PAY FOR THE DIAGNOSTIC IN ORDER FOR FORD TO EVEN LOOK INTO THE MATTER. THEY STATED I COULD CALL MY INSURANCE AND GO THAT ROUTE. I EXPLAINED I WAS WORRIED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF OTHERS AND THEY SAID IT WAS UP TO ME WHAT I DID. THEY WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING UNLESS I PAID FOR THE DIAGNOSTIC. I STATED THAT IT WAS NOT MY RESPONSIBILITY BUT FORD'S AND SHE RESPONDED YES. IN FRUSTRATION I HUNG UP AND BEGAN THIS COMPLAINT. IF SOMEONE WERE TO LEAVE HIS OR HER CHILD IN THE CAR AND THIS HAPPENS THE CHILD WILL BE SEVERELY INJURED. IF I HAD BEEN ALONE WHEN THIS HAPPENED I WOULD NOT HAVE KNOWN TO UNPLUG THE SEAT MOTOR. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS. MY HUSBAND STATED TH

Source

Authoritative
NHTSA ODI Flat-File Downloads
ODI Number
10078738
Machine
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