# 1998 FORD TAURUS — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
> NHTSA complaint `935960` · 2012-08-24 · 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:** TAURUS
- **Year:** 1998
- **Manufacturer:** Ford Motor Company
- **Component:** ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
- **Miles at failure:** 70,000
- **Speed:** 40 mph
## Narrative
AFTER DRIVING ABOUT A MILE, THE AIR CONDITIONING STOPPED AND BLACK SMOKE CAME OUT OF THE HOOD.  STOPPED THE CAR AND THOUGHT OF OPENING THE HOOD BUT SAW FLAMES.  THREE ADULTS AND TWO CHILDREN (5 AND 2 YRS OLD) GOT OUT OF THE CAR.  CALLED POLICE AND FIRE SERVICE.   BY THE TIME THEY ARRIVE, THE CAR WAS IN FLAMES.  THE ENGINE AND FRONT ROW SEATS WERE TOTALLY BURNT.  THE CAR WAS A TOTAL LOSS.  THERE WAS NO WAY TO DETERMINE THE REASON FOR THE (MYSTERIOUS) FIRE.  THIS HAPPENED IN MIAMI, FLORIDA.  *TR
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*Source: [NHTSA ODI](https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/downloads/) · AI Analytics · CC0 1.0*