1996 Ford Econoline: fire, smoke or burning smell

Filed Jun 4, 2008 · Engine · 122,000 miles · OH · fire

Tl*the contact owned a 1996 ford econoline. The contact stated that the vehicle caught fire on january 14, 2008 while parked in the driveway. Smoke appeared from the engine and front passenger seat. The fire department extinguished the fire and filed a report. The vehicle was destroyed. The contact received ford recall notice number 05s28 the first week in may of 2008. The current and failure mileages were 122,000.

Filed Feb 26, 2008 · Acceleration · 134,495 miles · GA · fire

Tl*the contact owns a 1996 ford econoline. While parked, the vehicle began smoking and then caught fire. The fire originated from the cruise control and destroyed all of the switches, buttons, and mirror on the driver side door. The contact has pictures. Updated 5/20/08

Filed Oct 17, 2007 · Acceleration, Electrical · 157,000 miles · MI · fire

Tl*the contact owns a 1996 ford econoline. After the vehicle had been parked for 24 hours, it burst into flames. There were no prior warnings. The fire was extinguished by the fire department. The insurance investigator stated that the fire was caused by something electrical in the engine compartment. The vehicle was destroyed and towed. Personal items that were in the yard were burned and damaged. The vehicle was repaired last november for the federal safety agency campaign id number 06v286000 (vehicle speed control). The cruise control never worked properly after the repair was made. The current and failure mileages were 157,000. Updated 02-19-08

Filed Dec 29, 2006 · Electrical · 113,000 miles · GA · fire

The morning of 23 dec 2006 around 5:00 am, my 1196 ford econoline conversion van caught on fire in the engine compartment for no apparent reason. Due to the intense heat my home suffered fire damage as well. There were no known mechanical or electrical problems with the van. It was running like a champ until this incident.

Filed Sep 6, 2006 · Acceleration · SC · fire

1996 club wagon chateau theft alarm came on/off causing vehicle not to start the next morning. *ts the alarm once again sounded and was turned off. A few hours later the vehicle was on fire. The vehicle's cruise control deactivation switch had failed prior to the consumer receiving the recall notice. Another vehicle was damaged in the fire. The consumer's vehicle was a total loss.

Filed Oct 31, 2005 · Acceleration · 98,000 miles · MN · fire

Dt: the contact stated cruise control stopped working. The local repair shop replaced a 15 amp circuit breaker. After the vehicle was parked for approximately five hours it caught on fire. The fire department was called. The insurance investigator could not determine the cause of the fire. *ak the consumer believed the fire was related to the cruise control. Updated 12/07/05.

Filed Oct 4, 2005 · Engine · 79,362 miles · TX · fire

On sunday morning at about 6 am the alarm of our van went off. It woke us up. The engine of the van was on fire. We called the 911 and the fire department came. My husband tried to use the fire extinguisher but he could not open the hood. The fire department put out the fire.the last time I drove the van was about 8:30 pm on saturday night. It was fine then while it was burning it sounded like it was trying to start. One fireman said that sound was from the wires burning or something like that. It is a 1996 ford [xxx] ford e 350 limited regency the mileage was about79362. A sticker on the windshield says built with pride econoline by loraind ohio assembly uaw 425 2000. We are very thankful for the car alarm. We were not due to wake up until an hour later. We think it is totaled because the whole front side is burned and the windshield broke. All the seats are still in good shape. The police came to the scene but when we went to get the report we found that the police man did not make a report. He didn't even speak to us. Later we learned that shift change happens that time of morning. (a police man who goes to our church told us about the shift change) he didn't know why a report was not taken. *nm updated 07/18/2012 *js information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6)

Filed Jul 8, 2005 · 85,000 miles · CA · fire

1996 ford econoline van was parked on my property. It started on fire which spread so quickly that the whole van was burnt before the fire department arrived. The fire department believes the fire started on the driver's side towards the front of the vehicle but can not determine what started it although we are still waiting for their report. This van was not parked near anything flammable nor was there anything flammable in the van. The fire was so hot the windshield melted. We now have no van and no explanation of why it would start on fire. The sheriff's department said they would not take a report unless the fire department suspects arson.

Filed Jun 30, 2005 · Brakes · 100,000 miles · FL

On june 25th I changed the battery on my 1996 ford e150 because the battery was dead. About a half an hour later I heard the alarm going off. When I went outside there was white smoke coming out from under the hood. I raised the hood and the sending unit on the master cylinder for the cruise control was smoking and the white smoke was increasing by the second. I pulled the wires that were leading to it and the smoked started to disapate. The vehicle was not running and the ignition was turned off. On june 29, I was watching the jane pauly show on cnn. They were reporting about a problem with this same part on the ford f150 pickups. I believe that if my alarm had not sounded my vehicle would have caught on fire like the pickup trucks in the report. As of yet I still have not repaired the vehicle and all parts are as they were on the day of the incedent. If you would like I will leave the vehicle this way so you can inspect the problem if you would like. Please contact me asap so I know how to proceed.

Filed May 2, 2005 · Electrical · IL · fire

The consumer stated the vehicle caught on fire under the hood. The fire department made the assumption of it being an electrical fire.

Filed Oct 1, 2001 · Fuel system · KS · fire

My ford e-150 van, after being driven about 1 hour earlier, burst into flames while parked in my driveway. A forensic investigation identified the speed deactivation control switch located on the master brake control cylinder. This is the same switch as in 93 lincoln towncars and many other ford cars and trucks. It was designed by texas insturments to be wire as switched but ford installed it as wired always hot. Please investigate. This will cause millions of dollars of property damage and could injure many people. These vehicles can burst into flames at any time or in anybody's garage. Please contact me if you would like a copy of the forensic report I paid for. Thanks, and please don't park your ford in your garage.

Filed Nov 17, 1999 · Engine · TX · fire

While parked engine compartment caught fire. Vehicle was totaled. Dealer and manufacturer have been notified. Comsumer wants to be compensated for losses. *ak