# 1998 FORD WINDSTAR — VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
> NHTSA complaint `746223` · 2009-11-30 · 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:** VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
- **Miles at failure:** 110,000
## Narrative
ON JULY 6, 2009, MY FORD WINDSTAR MINIVAN BURNED UP. I WAS DRIVING TO PICK UP SUPPER WHEN THE CRUISE CONTROL STOPPED WORKING. I WENT ON, PICKED UP SUPPER, AND STARTED THE CAR AGAIN. IMMEDIATELY SMOKE STARTED BILLOWING. I PULLED AROUND THE CORNER IN THE PARKING LOT, PARKED AGAIN, AND POPPED THE HOOD. THERE WAS A SMALL FIRE IN THE ALTERNATOR AREA. I TOOK MY TODDLER OUT OF THE CAR AND RAN INTO A STORE TO CALL THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. BY THE TIME THEY GOT THERE, THE CAR WAS DESTROYED AND A TOTAL LOSS. WE HAD THE CAR TOWED AND GIVEN TO MCDONALD'S TOWING. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT DIDN'T KNOW WHAT CAUSED IT, BUT THAT IT LOOKED LIKE POSSIBLE LEAKING BRAKE FLUID. *TR
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*Source: [NHTSA ODI](https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/downloads/) · AI Analytics · CC0 1.0*