I have a 1996 Ford Windstar van that caught fire while I was driving. The cruise control was on. The vehicle lost power, then a boom and there were flames around the firewall. The master cylinder, wiring harness, hoses etc. Were destroyed. The fire was located more on the driver's side of the vehicle. This vehicle has been more than properly maintained, and my mechanic can attest to this. This vehicle has not yet been repaired. I was not injured. This occurred prior to the current recall.

- Mountain Grove, MO, USA

The contact owns a 1996 Ford Windstar. After picking up his vehicle from the mechanic, the contact noticed smoke rising from under the hood. He pulled over, opened the hood, and noticed flames coming from the cruise control switch that connects to the bottom of the master cylinder. He notified the dealer and the manufacturer and they stated that nothing could be done because there was no recall. They advised him to call NHTSA. The contact extinguished the fire with water, but the vehicle continued to smoke. The vehicle has remained parked at his residence since August 6, 2007. The speed was unknown. The failure and current mileages were 130,000.

- Steeleville, IL, USA

My 1996 Ford Windstar has been leaking brake fluid for a few months. It was determined yesterday, by my mechanic, that the speed control deactivation switch was the cause of the leak. He replaced the part and informed me that Ford has a recall for this defective part. I called my Ford dealership and was told that the Windstar does not fall under this recall.

- Attleboro, MA, USA

I smelled some type of plastic burning while waiting at a stop light. After turning into the store I discovered the smell stayed with my car. After parking, I noticed smoke pouring from under the hood. I lifted the hood and discovered a connector was overheating and melting. I pulled the connector with a wet paper towel and the smoke cleared. I later learned it was the speed control switch located on the bottom of the master cylinder shorted and caused an overheating problem causing the connector to start smoking and melting. A few days later I could smell the burning again and decided to cut the connector completely off to prevent any further shorting. A couple of days later I heard about a similar recall and decided to notify you as my model was not part of the original recall.

- Merritt Island, FL, USA

The contact owns a 1996 Ford Windstar. Two years ago around June 7 2003 while driving the van all weekend, when they got out of the van and walked into a store, were not into the store for 10 minutes and someone said that the vehicle on fire. Had problems with ABS light coming on, and they tried to have this fixed. Were not successful in getting this fixed. The vehicle was totaled, and the insurance company covered it. She believed the problem was from the deactivation of cruise control switch. The fire started under the hood.

- Thornton, PA, USA

While driving, a sudden engine fire occurred in a 1996 Windstar. The Ford dealer (sound Ford, renton wa) states that the fire originated in the cruise control cutout switch. It is clear from the burn pattern that this was indeed the cause. The single occupant was able to exit the vehicle, and the fire was extinguished using a dry chemical fire extinguisher from a local merchant (westmarine, seattle, wa). The Ford dealer has been unable so far to repair the vehicle (it's been over three weeks).

- Kent, WA, USA

Cruise control switch shorted, caused smoke, caused cruise control to fail, replaced with new switch. Ford would not repair as part of recent pickip truck recall on this switch. Had to pay for repair. I have original failed switch which leaks brake fluid into switch causing short and smoke.

- Windsor Locks, CT, USA

Engine check light came on. Rough idle. Tune-up performed. Oxygen sensor replaced. Engine check light is now off. Two days later, engine check light is back on and rough idle returns. Replaced oxygen sensor and plug wires. Next day, driving car and temperature gauge falls almost all the way to cold side. Heater blowing out just a little warm. Pressure tested engine. Leakage in a cylinder. Upon teardiown, head gasket has failed leaking coolant into engine.

- Calumet City, IL, USA

Ford Windstar (1996): A local mechanic said that our rough idle, engine light, and smell of antifreeze indicated a head-gasket problem. Hill and sanders Ford service station checked for pressure leaks, but could only suggest that it was bad plugs causing the "misfire code" in the computer. After $318, we got new spark plugs and a reset warning light. Within a week, the check engine light came on, and the rough idle and smell of antifreeze reappeared. We returned it to H&S and mentioned that it was a continuation of the previous, with a new symptom of discolored antifreeze in the overflow container (oil color). H&S said the engine light was a result of a "misfire code" but didn't know why. The only thing H&S did was flush the radiator for $100, and admitted they don't know what else it could be. A few days later the engine light came on. On Nov. 20, 2000 the van started making mechanical noises from the engine, lost power, and slowed to a crawl. My wife got it to a safe location where she and the kids could wait to have it towed to H&S. a note referenced the previous 2 H&S visits for related problems. H&S's told me that "something inside the engine came loose" and that he recommends we replace the engine for $5050! he didn't know what was wrong. We called H&S ([xxx] ) the next day and told him that we felt that H&S should be responsible for the damages due to their inability to detect and fix the problem, and sending us away with a feeling that the problem was fixed or inconsequential. H&S felt that they were not responsible. Our original mechanic was amazed that H&S didn't suspect something was wrong when oil was found in the antifreeze, and that they only flushed the system! we feel helpless and taken advantage of. Anything we can do to recover our loss? [xxx] VIN [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Silver Spring, MD, USA

The cruise control had an electrical short and the brakes failed.

- Cheshire, CT, USA

Consumer has exprienced idle control problems with vehicle four-five times. First time July 29-97, then no problem for five days. The problem occurs when driving 35mph, if foot is taken off pedal at 35mph the vehicle idles there. When driving at 55 in over drive the idle gest stuck also. Dealer changed the idle air control the first time part #9F715-9F670. The fourth time dealer added a flight recorder which recorded three failures, but they cannot find a cause. Vehicle is in shop for fifth time. Lake shore Ford- Mercury-Toyota Inc. 244 melton rd. Chesterton, in. 46034. 219-787-8600. This has occured over 20 different times within one month.

- Porter, IN, USA