1998 Ford Explorer: fire, smoke or burning smell

Filed Apr 15, 2019 · Electrical · 134,000 miles · CA · fire

My explorer had been parked in my driveway for well over 15 hours when I heard my neighbor screaming. The SUV was fully ignited into flames.just out of no where. I was able to get the fire out with my water hoses before the gotta department showed up but the entire vehicle is ruined and half my garage as well. The fire started down by the brakes and the entire vehicle was engolfed within seconds. Obviously it was electrical. Upon further investigation I believe it was the cruise control switch malfunction. My SUV had 134,000 miles on it and kept in immaculate condition. I will download the fire departments report once to get it. [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).

Filed Oct 25, 2015 · Electrical · 100,000 miles · TX · fire

Only got my service dog out, thank god I was in a glass front restraunt. Cd player caught the dash on fire and burned the truck completely up. Truck was parked and off for 20 min.

Filed Jan 26, 2015 · Engine, Fuel system · 170,000 miles · OR · fire

Tl*the contact owns a 1998 ford explorer. The contact stated that while traveling approximately 55 MPH, the vehicle erupted into flames coming from the engine compartment into the interior of the vehicle. The contact was able to merged over and exit the vehicle as the flames were extensive and the vehicle was destroyed. The fire department was able to extinguish the flames. The vehicle was towed to a yard. The contact was not included in the federal safety agency campaign id number: 98v060000 (fuel system, gasoline). The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 170,000.

Filed Aug 14, 2014 · Engine · 200,000 miles · PA · fire

Tl* the contact owned a 1998 ford explorer. The contact noticed smoke rising from the engine compartment, which entered the cabin of the vehicle through the air conditioning vents. Shortly afterwards, flames engulfed the entire vehicle and shattered all of the windows. The vehicle had recently been repaired according to the federal safety agency campaign number: 09v399000 (vehicle speed control). The fire department extinguished the fire. The vehicle was destroyed. The failure mileage was 200,000.

Filed Feb 2, 2014 · Engine · 180,000 miles · NJ · fire

My car was parked in the driveway and was off. We heard a noise from inside the house and my 1998 ford explorer was in flames from the engine area. We had to call the fire department and the car was quickly engulfed.

Filed Jul 12, 2012 · Engine · 120,000 miles · SC · fire

Tl* the contact owned a 1998 ford explorer. The contact stated that while parked, the vehicle engulfed into flames with the sound of a large explosion. The fire department extinguished the fire, which originated underneath the hood area. The vehicle was declared as destroyed and remained at the residence for further investigation. The manufacturer was not notified of the problem. The approximate failure mileage was 120,000.

Filed Apr 2, 2012 · Acceleration, Brakes · 131,000 miles · NJ · fire

The explorer brake peddle went to the floor to stop the vehicle . There was smoke coming from under the hood . In a few seconds , the truck was in flames. Police and firemen were called to the location . They put the fire out in a few minutes .

Filed Sep 16, 2011 · 150,000 miles · AZ · fire · 1 injury

We used the ford explorer ealier in the day to visit local relatives. We parked the car in our attached garage at around 4pm that day. We were woken up around 1am to noises coming from the garage. Upon opening the garage door from our laundry room, I found the hood of the ford explorer in flames. I slammed the laundry room door and proceeded to get our 3 yr old son out from his room that is located above the garage and out of the house. My husband also went into the garage to see what was happening, by then the truck was fully engulfed in flames. He was going to try to put out the fire but quickly realized that there was no chance.the fire was too big by then and being that our gas water heater was located next to the vehicle, he quickly exited the garage but did receive 2nd - 3rd degree burns to his hands, feet and right flank of his back. By the time the fire dept arrived on scene, the garage was engulfed in flames. The fire destroyed the garage, the support beams for the second floor above the garage and the laundry room. Also, the entire first floor has smoke and water damage and the second floor is mostly smoke damage.

Filed Sep 9, 2011 · Electrical · 98,000 miles · IN · fire

Tl* the contact owns a 1998 ford explorer. The contact was driving 30 MPH when burning fumes were emitted into the vehicle. The contact moved the vehicle from the roadway, found that there were flames coming from under the hood, and extinguished the fire with an extinguisher. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer and the manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileage was 98,000.

Filed Jun 30, 2011 · Electrical · 23,000 miles · AR · fire

Tl* the contact owns a 1998 ford explorer. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked the vehicle burst into flames. The fire department was called and extinguished the fire. The vehicle was destroyed. The contact did not mention if there were any injuries. The fire department confirmed that cause of the fire was electrical. The contact called the manufacturer regarding the fire and filed a complaint. The contact was concerned that the fire could have caused serious injuries. The failure mileage was 23,000.

Filed Jun 24, 2011 · Acceleration · 96,160 miles · FL · fire

Tl* the contact owns a 1998 ford explorer. The contact stated that the vehicle was parked when the engine caught on fire. The fire department appeared on the scene to extinguish the fire. The contact was informed that the fire was electrical and originated near the cruise control switch. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileages were 96,160. The VIN was unavailable.

Filed Mar 28, 2011 · Acceleration · 167,000 miles · GA · fire

Tl* the contact owns a 1998 ford explorer. The contact stated that the vehicle was parked unoccupied outside of the contacts residence when it burst into massive flames. The fire department extinguished the fire and the vehicle was completely destroyed. A fire report was available. The contact stated that the manufacturer issued a voluntary recall pertaining to the speed control system modification under the federal safety agency campaign id number: 00v422000 (vehicle speed control) and the vehicle was included in the recall but had not yet been repaired. The contact believed the failure was related to the recall defect. The failure mileage was 167,000. Updated 05/03/11*lj updated 05/23/11