# 1998 FORD EXPLORER — VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
> NHTSA complaint `644828` · 2007-11-04 · Ford Motor Company
## Severity
- **Deaths:** 0
- **Injured:** 0
- **Fire:** Yes
- **Crash:** No
- **Police report:** Yes
- **Medical attention:** No
- **Vehicle towed:** No
## Vehicle
- **Make:** FORD
- **Model:** EXPLORER
- **Year:** 1998
- **Manufacturer:** Ford Motor Company
- **Component:** VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
- **Miles at failure:** 140,000
## Narrative
MY WIFE'S 1998 FORD EXPLORER XLT CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE PARKED RIGHT IN FRONT OF MY KID'S SCHOOL, SHE DROVE FOR 1 MILE FROM OUR HOUSE TO THE SCHOOL TO PICK UP MY KID, LUCKILY IT DIDN'T BURN IN THE GARAGE.  THE FIRE ACCORDING TO THE FIRE DEPARTMENT LOOKS LIKE IT STARTED AROUND THE BRAKES MASTER CYLINDER UNDER THE HOOD DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF THE DRIVER AND ACCORDING TO THE BURN MARKS ON THE HOOD LOOKS LIKE IT WAS THERE WHERE IT BURNED THE HOTTEST, THE WHOLE ENGINE COMPARTMENT BURNED AND LUCKILY THE FIRE DPTM IS REAL CLOSE SO IT DIDN'T BURN COMPLETELY.  UPON INVESTIGATION ON THE INTERNET I CAME TO KNOW ABOUT A SAFETY RECALL FOR THESE VEHICLES INVOLVING THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH THAT IS LOCATED BY THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER AND THAT CAN RESULT ON FIRE, SO I STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT THIS INCIDENT IS A CONSEQUENCE OF THIS RECALL THAT I HAD NO IDEA OF.    THE VEHICLE IS TOTALED AND NOW WE ARE STRUGGLING WITHOUT OUR PRIMARY FAMILY VEHICLE, I'M JUST THANKFUL THAT MY FAMILY AND MY HOUSE ARE SAFE.  *JB
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*Source: [NHTSA ODI](https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/downloads/) · AI Analytics · CC0 1.0*