The failure appears to have originated in the passenger side engine compartment, but the exact component or system (fuel, electrical, or other) is unknown. The vehicle is a total loss from the fire but should be available for inspection at the tow or storage facility. Our safety and the safety of others were put at risk because the vehicle caught fire suddenly while driving with traffic on a public road; my wife was driving, I was in the passenger seat, and our dog was in the back, and if we had not noticed the smoke and pulled over, the fire could have led to loss of control, injury, or a larger fire. The problem has not been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center because the vehicle is completely burned and not drivable. As of now, the vehicle has not yet been inspected by the manufacturer; a claim has been initiated with my insurance company, and I expect their representatives and/or a fire investigator to inspect the vehicle, and local emergency services responded to the scene. There were no warning lamps or messages on the dashboard prior to the fire; the only prior symptom was an abnormal odor from the exhaust that smelled like mothballs or ammonia, first noticed immediately after starting the vehicle at the beginning of the trip on November 23, 2025, followed later in the trip by smoke and then the fire.

- Saint Augustine, FL, USA

The contact owns a 2024 Ford Bronco. The contact stated that while driving and coming to a stop, the Engine Auto Start-Stop system failed to engage, and the engine revved significantly, causing the vehicle to move forward unintendedly. The contact stated that the failure persisted while standing on the brake pedal, requiring the contact to shift to neutral(N) or to park(P) to stop the engine. The contact stated that the failure had occurred on two occasions. The contact stated that the vehicle nearly moved into oncoming traffic on the first occasion and the vehicle nearly crashed into the rear of another vehicle on the second occasion. The failure also required the contact to steer the vehicle away from another vehicle or to shut off the engine to avoid a crash. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was determined that the failure might be related to a low battery. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 6,000.

- Beaverton, OR, USA

The contact owns a 2024 Ford Bronco. The contact stated that after parking and turning off the vehicle, the "Steering Assist Fault, Service Required" message was displayed. The message disappeared after restarting the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, but the dealer was unable to duplicate the failure. The failure recurred while pressing the Auto Start/Stop button without depressing the brake pedal. The engine revved abnormally loud while the vehicle was parked. The messages "Steering Assist Fault, Service Required", "Pre-Collision Assist Not Available, " and "Service Advancetrac" were displayed. The ABS and battery warning lights were illuminated. The engine then inadvertently turned off, and the radio switched on and off. Roadside Assistance arrived on the scene and the contact stated that when the tow truck driver started the vehicle, the messages and warning lights were no longer illuminated or displayed. The vehicle was towed back to the dealer, but the dealer was unable to duplicate the failure for the second time. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was opened. The failure mileage was 9,929.

- Byhalia, MS, USA