MY 2001 FORD EXPEDITION RECENTLY SUFFERED A TOTAL LOSS ENGINE FIRE -- ACCORDING TO THE FIRE DEPARTMENT'S INVESTIGATION, IT WAS LIKELY CAUSED BY A CRUISE CONTROL PROBLEM/MALFUNCTION THAT WAS DUE TO FAULTY MANUFACTURING BY THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY. THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED-OFF AND PARKED IN THE PARKING LOT AT MY OFFICE AT EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, FLORIDA WHEN THE FIRE STARTED. AFTER THE FIRE, I LEARNED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR MY FORD TRUCK BECAUSE OF THIS EXACT PROBLEM -- AS A 20-YEAR ACTIVE DUTY MILITARY VETERAN, I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED BY FORD ABOUT THIS POTENTIAL HAZARD. I THANK GOD THAT THIS DIDN'T OCCUR IN MY GARAGE WHERE THE TRUCK WAS ALWAYS PARKED -- MY GARAGE SITS DIRECTLY BELOW THE BEDROOM WHERE MY TWO YOUNG BOYS SLEEP. MY EXPEDITION, WHICH I BOUGHT NEW IN 2001, WAS A TOTAL LOSS. IT WAS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION UNTIL THE DAY OF THE FIRE -- I REPORTED THE FIRE TO MY INSURANCE COMPANY, USAA. UNFORTUNATELY, FORD HAS NOT PROVIDED ANY ASSISTANCE OR SUPPORT AFTER THIS HORRIBLE AND LIFE-THREATENING INCIDENT. *TR