2001 FORD ESCAPE — SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE

WHILE ATTENDING A SCHOOL PLAY, I WAS CALLED OUTSIDE B/C MY FORD ESCAPE WAS SMOKING FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND THE ALARM WAS GOING OFF. I HAD BEEN INSIDE & THE CAR SHUT OFF FOR 25 MIN. BEFORE BEING CALLED OUT. SMOKE & FIRE WAS BILLOWING FROM UNDER THE HOOD, AND FIRE WAS DROPPING ON THE GROUND BY THE TIME THE FIRE DEPT. ARRIVED. THE HOOD OF MY VEHICLE HAD TO BE PRIED UP ON THE SIDES AND FRONT IN ORDER TO PUT OUT THE FIRE. EVERYTHING INSIDE HAD MELTED. THEY ASKED IF I HAD NOTICED ANYTHING UNUSUAL ABOUT THE CAR. IT HAD BEEN A LITTLE SLOW TO START FOR A COUPLE DAYS, BUT SEEMED TO RUN FINE. I THOUGHT PERHAPS I NEEDED TO CHECK THE SPARK PLUGS. THE FIRE DEPT. SUGGESTED I CONTACT FORD TO CHECK ON ANY POTENTIAL RECALLS. FORD MOTOR VERIFIED THAT CONFIRMED THAT RECALL #07S51 DID APPLY TO THE VEHICLE BASED ON MY VIN#. REMEMBERING BACK, EARLIER IN THE WEEK, MY ABS LIGHT DID COME ON, WHICH I THOUGHT WAS UNUSUAL. BUT IT DID NOT STAY ON LONG, SO I WAS NOT CONCERNED. I FILED A REPORT WITH FORD'S CRC. THEY HAVE SUBMITTED THE REPORT TO THEIR GENERAL COUNCIL. THEY SAID TO EXPECT UP TO 15 BUSINESS DAYS BEFORE RECEIVING A RESPONSE ON NEXT THE STEPS. NO ONE WAS HURT, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS DECLARED TOTALED. I HAVE A REPORT FROM THE FIRE DEPT. PICTURES, AFFIDAVITS AND A PERSONAL WRITTEN REPORT. THIS WAS MY ONLY VEHICLE. *TR THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATED, BUT ONCE SHE ADDED BRAKE FLUID EVERYTHING SEEMED FINE. UPDATED 09/14/09.*JB