# 1996 MERCURY VILLAGER — EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
> NHTSA complaint `536673` · 2005-08-12 · 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:** VILLAGER
- **Year:** 1996
- **Manufacturer:** Ford Motor Company
- **Component:** EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
- **Miles at failure:** 99,472
- **Speed:** 35 mph
## Narrative
DT: CONSUMER STATED: IT WAS NIGHT, COLD OUTSIDE, AND  WHILE DRIVING SMELLED BURNING RUBBER.  PULLED OVER, TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE, OPENED HOOD BEDORE HOOD WAS COMPLETED OPENED, CONSUMER COULD SEE FLAMES BURNING AND THE AIR CONDITIONER COMPRESSOR  PULLEY WAS SO HOT THAT  IT WAS GLOWING RED.  THE BELT ATTACHED TO THE COMPRESSOR WAS BURNING.   *AK  THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE DAMAGING THE COMPRESSOR AND BELT(S) AND LIKELY OTHER A/C COMPONENTS.  *NM  CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO PUT OUT FIRE.  THE A/C COMRESSOR FAILED CAUSING THE FIRE.   *TT
---
*Source: [NHTSA ODI](https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/downloads/) · AI Analytics · CC0 1.0*