Safety agency checking out complaints

The Associated Press

WASHINGTON -- A federal safety agency is investigating dozens of complaints of fires or heavy smoke in some earlier model Ford Explorer sport utility vehicles.

About a million of the Explorers, from model years 1992 to 1994, are on the road. A report released Monday by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said there were 135 complaints of fire, smoke or burning smells coming from the ventilation system after leaves or other material entered through the Explorers' fresh-air vent, located at the bottom of the windshield. Two-thirds of the complaints involved fires or heavy smoke. A hot portion of the blower assembly may ignite debris that can collect in the venting system, the report said. The safety agency is also looking into complaints that some 1997 and 1998 Explorers continue to accelerate after the driver takes his foot off the gas or disengages the cruise control. "We're aware of it and cooperating fully with NHTSA," said Ford spokeswoman Karen Shaughnessy. NHTSA opens safety investigations with a preliminary inquiry in which the agency and manufacturer exchange paperwork including any complaints. The investigation may then be upgraded to an engineering analysis, during which engineers study components to see if they are defective. An investigation can lead to a recall. The NHTSA also opened an investigation into complaints that spare tires are falling off some Chevrolet S-10 pickups. The spare is stored under the truck and held in place by a cable. In several cases the tires bounced back into the motorist's pickup or hit another vehicle, the report said. One injury was reported. There are about 1.45 million of the General Motors pickups on the road. Federal investigators are looking at S-10 pickups from model years 1991 through 1996. GM spokeswoman Mia Walton said the company was "cooperating fully with the investigation."

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