# 1998 FORD WINDSTAR — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
> NHTSA complaint `683602` · 2008-08-18 · Ford Motor Company
## Severity
- **Deaths:** 0
- **Injured:** 0
- **Fire:** Yes
- **Crash:** No
- **Police report:** No
- **Medical attention:** No
- **Vehicle towed:** No
## Vehicle
- **Make:** FORD
- **Model:** WINDSTAR
- **Year:** 1998
- **Manufacturer:** Ford Motor Company
- **Component:** ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
- **Miles at failure:** 138,000
## Narrative
MY WIFE ATTEMPTED TO START 1998 FORD WINDSTAR WHEN SMOKE BEGAN TO ISSUE FROM BENEATH THE HOOD. SHE IMMEDIATELY REMOVOVED HERSELF AND DOG WHEREUPON THE ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE AND SUBSEQUENTLY EXPLODED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED TO EXTINGUISH THE FLAMES BUT EVERYTHING FOWRWARD OF THE FIREWALL WAS MELTED DOWN. THE WINDSHIELD HAD EXPLODED AND THE INTERIOR SUFFERED SMOKE DAMAGE. EVERYTHING IN FRONT OF THE FIREWALL WAS AN ENTIRE LOSS.  THIS REPORT IS FILED AFTER LEARNING THAT NHTSA IS INVOLVED IN INVESTIGATION OF MORE THAN 130 OTHER REPORTS OF A SIMILAR NATURE. WE WISH TO LEARN IF THERE IS ANY RECOURSE OR CLASS ACTION SUIT AVAILABLE TO US. *TR
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*Source: [NHTSA ODI](https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/downloads/) · AI Analytics · CC0 1.0*