Business News, "Federal safety agency investigating Ford Explorer fires, smoke"

          A federal safety agency is investigating dozens of motorist complaints of fires or heavy smoke in some earlier model Ford Explorer sport utility vehicles. There are nearly 1 million of the Explorers from model years 1992 through 1994 on the road. There were 135 complaints of fire, heavy smoke or a burning smell after leaves or other materials entered through the Explorers' fresh air vent at the base of the windshield, according to a monthy report released Monday by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
          Two-thirds of the complaints involved fires or heavy smoke. A hot portion of the blower may ignite leaves, pine needles and other material after it collects in the vent system, the report said. Twenty-two of the motorists complained the problem occurred more than once. Ford Motor Co. had issued a recall of 48,000 Mercury Villager cars in 1995 for a similar problem. The safety agency is also investigating 1997 and 1998 Ford Explorers after complaints the sport utilities were continuing to accelerate when the driver stepped off the gas pedal or disengaged the cruise control.
          There are some 300,000 of the 1997-1998 Explorers on the road. About 99 percent of the complaints involve problems with the throttle on Explorers with 4 liter engines and a single overhead cam, the report said. There were about 3,830 complaints provided by Ford to the agency that typically said the throttle or gas pedal "sticks." But it is unclear whether the throttle was stuck in the open position, causing acceleration, or the closed position, making it difficult to accelerate.