I OWN(ED) A 2000 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER, 8 CYLINDER, WHICH I HAVE OWNED SINCE IT WAS NEW. THE CAR HAS BEEN METICULOUSLY MAINTAINED AND HAS NEVER BEEN INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. I WAS DRIVING THE CAR TODAY (FOR ABOUT 15 MINUTES). AS I WAS SITTING IN LINE AT THE DRIVE-THRU AT A LOCAL BANK, SMOKE STARTED COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I THOUGHT MAYBE IT WAS OVERHEATING (ALTHOUGH THERE WAS NO REASON IT SHOULD). WITHIN SECONDS PEOPLE STARTED SCREAMING AT ME TO GET OUT OF THE CAR BECAUSE THERE WERE FLAMES SHOOTING OUT FROM THE WHEEL WELLS. I PULLED OUT OF LINE AND GOT OUT OF THE CAR. THE CAR'S ENGINE WAS ON FIRE, THE FREEHOLD POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS WERE CALLED AND THE CAR CONTINUED TO BURN FOR A GOOD 20 MINUTES BEFORE THE FIRE DEPARTMENT COULD PUT OUT THE FIRE. THE ENTIRE ENGINE ASSEMBLY BURNED AND MELTED INCLUDING THE GRILL OF THE CAR. THE FIRE MARSHALL HAD NO IDEA WHAT MAY HAVE CAUSED THIS. HAVE YOU HAD ANY OTHER SUCH COMPLAINTS? *JB