1993 Ford Explorer: fire, smoke or burning smell

Filed Apr 24, 2013 · Body, Engine · 76,000 miles · FL · fire · 1 injury

I was pulling into my condo's parking garage when driver in car behind me alerted me that my truck was on fire. I stopped immediately and noticed smoke and a burning smell inside of the vehicle and my feet got really hot. Exited vehicle and noticed fire dripping from underneath vehicle and black smoke and fire from under the hood. Immediately called 911 to report fire, as the fire unit was on its way the vehicle had two or three explosions under the hood and the horn came on. The entire vehicle was engulfed in flames. It was a total loss. The 22 story condominium fire alarms went off, all the elevators stopped working and the fire marshall evacuated the entire building. The parking garage was full of sooth and dense black smoke. The main lobby and elevator lobby was full of smoke. The er diagnosed me with smoke inhalation and shortness of breath. Subsequent lung test shows 30% decreased lung capacity.

Filed Jan 28, 2010 · Acceleration · 102,600 miles · FL · fire

Almost home, when I noticed a burning smell inside of the vehicle it then began to slow speed, vehicle began to smoke inside and out while pulling into yard. Got out and then noticed fire dripping from underneath vehicle and smoke exiting from hood. Immediately called 911 to report fire, as the fire unit was on its way the vehicle had a explosion under the hood and was totaled. The attending fire investigator said that he had seen this type of fire before with ford f150's and other ford sports utility vehicles and that it was possibly the speed or cruise control that started the fire, and to look. Please respond so that I know which steps to take.

Filed Dec 4, 2007 · Electrical, Visibility · 89,000 miles · TX

Tl*the contact owns a 1993 ford explorer. While idling at a traffic light, the contact noticed dark smoke coming through the vents. The contact shut off the vehicle and restarted it when the smoke ceased. While driving 25 MPH, the smoke reappeared. The contact looked under the hood, but could not locate the source of the failure. The contact had the heater fuse removed, which stopped the vehicle from smoking. The vehicle had not yet been taken to the dealer. The current and failure mileages were 89,000. Updated 05/27/08 *bf the consumer stated the AC only worked on high and the rear windshield wiper did not work. Updated

Filed Nov 8, 2007 · Acceleration · 73,000 miles · MD · fire

Tl*the contact owns a 1993 ford explorer. The vehicle was parked in the garage for several hours when the contact noticed a burning electrical smell inside his home. He got his family out of the home and the home alarm began to sound. When they exited the house, they discovered the garage engulfed in flames. By the time the fire department arrived, the home was also engulfed in flames. Both vehicles in the garage and the house were destroyed. The contact and his wife were charged with arson; however, the day before the trial, the charges were dropped. The contact stated that even though the charges were dropped, the fire is still listed as suspicious. The federal safety agency campaign id numbers 99v062001 and 07v336000 (vehicle speed control) were referenced. The contact believed that this is what started the fire, but there is no vehicle left to examine. A fire and police report were filed. The VIN and purchase date were unknown. The failure mileage was 73,000.

Filed Dec 12, 2005 · Electrical · GA · fire

I owned a ford 1992 explorer and one morning it just cacth fire for no reason at all. We let it run before taking my kids to school as we do every cold morning and if a little girl had been walking to the bus stop and saw the car on fire we would have been burn up in the house so luckly she saw and let us no before it got to the porch we call the fire dept.

Filed Sep 12, 2005 · Electrical · 120,000 miles · WI · fire

Dt: the consumer was driving on the road and the vehicle started sputtering like it needed a tune up. Tried to accelerate and smoke came from the heating and cooling vents. As soon as the consumer pulled over smoked started coming from under the hood. Within a few seconds the vehicle was in flames. Contacted ford, they said they were not recalling this vehicle. The fire department came out but were not sure where the fire started from. This happened on october 1, 2004.

Filed Dec 8, 2004 · Electrical · CA · fire

While driving 25 MPH consumer noticed smoke coming from the front of the vehicle. Suddenly, the vehicle caught on fire. Consumer pulled over, and the fire department extinguished the fire. Vehicle was towed to a garage.

Filed May 16, 2003 · Engine · MO · fire

Vehicle fire. Mr. While driving, the consumer noticed flames coming from under the hood, the vehicle was totaled.

Filed Apr 1, 2003 · Electrical · 101,000 miles · ID · fire

While parked, the vehicle caught on fire. The fire inspector indicated the fire was caused by the driver side door panel. *jb jamie conaday was the owner of this vehicle. Scc

Filed Jan 21, 2003 · Electrical · NY · fire

Consumer left the vehicle at the service gas station for service. Two days later vehicle caught on fire due to a faulty short circuit. Dealer has not been notified. Please provide further information. Ph.

Filed Mar 15, 2002 · Engine · TX · fire

While vehicle was parked, consumers neighbor noticed smoke coming out of the windows, consumer attempted to put out the fire, however by the time the doors were opened flames were smoldering in the front seats, fire department could not determine the cause of the fire, vehicle was a total loss.

Filed Mar 8, 2002 · Visibility · FL · fire

The aluminum finned heat exchanger unit under the hood has a plastic shroud around it the ducts fresh air into the air conditioning and heater blower ducting. This shroud became full of leaves which eventually caught fire , filling the entire interior of the vehicle with dense smoke. I had to pull the duct work under the hood apart and blow out the remaining ash and leaves to alleviate any future fire source. Ford has a defect in the way they designed the fresh air intake ducting which allows leaves and other debris to drift directly into the blower housing shrouding which becomes a major fire hazard. I now have to cover the lower half of the windshield and the upper half of the hood including the fresh air intake ducts with fiberglass window screen when the vehicle is parked outside to assure leaves do not fill the ducting system again causing another fire. I have also found 2 other incidents of this blower housing fires in other the federal safety agency incidents on this site as referenced by this :