In a shocking incident in Canton, Michigan, a new 2023 Ford F-150 PowerBoost® caught fire while being driven by a local man, Anthony Zeni. The fire quickly engulfed the inside of the truck’s cabin, leaving the vehicle completely destroyed in less than five minutes.
Zeni, who was hauling his boat when the fire started, recalls noticing smoke coming from the truck’s hood while on the freeway. “Once I came to a stop, that grey smoke turned to black smoke. The fire started coming through the hood,” Zeni explained.
In a panic, Zeni immediately shouted for his brother to grab his daughter from the truck. “At that point, I wondered, ‘Is the car going to blow? Am I going to lose my daughter?’” Zeni said. Luckily, all three occupants—Zeni, his brother, and his young daughter—were able to escape the truck. However, within moments, the entire truck was consumed by flames. “We ran away, and as we’re running away, the entire truck was up in flames, and there’s nothing left,” Zeni added.
The fire left the F-150 in a charred state, barely recognizable, and reduced to a frame. Although Zeni, his daughter, and his brother were physically unharmed, the trauma of the event still lingers. “It’s definitely shaken my trust,” Zeni said, expressing that he can no longer trust hybrid vehicles, especially after this terrifying experience.
In an emotional moment, Zeni also expressed the difficulty of losing his new truck. “I was happy that my daughter, I, and my brother were safe,” Zeni said, “but I was also upset seeing it burn to the ground knowing that’s my truck. I’m losing it.”
While Ford has acknowledged the incident and is investigating, Zeni hopes his story serves as a cautionary tale for other drivers. “I feel that Ford needs to take some responsibility in this. I wish I would get a better answer than just dealing with your insurance,” he said. “I want to feel some empathy from them.”
This incident has drawn attention to the risks of hybrid vehicles. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has stated that hybrid vehicles are statistically more likely to catch fire than traditional gas-powered or electric vehicles. This is not the first time Ford has faced safety concerns with its hybrid models. Just two years ago, Ford issued a recall of 125,000 hybrid Escape, Maverick, and Lincoln Corsair vehicles following a series of fires.
While Ford has made a statement regarding the fire, offering assistance with their investigation, Zeni’s distress over the situation reflects a growing concern over hybrid vehicle safety and the potential risks they pose to drivers.
As investigations continue, Zeni hopes for a resolution from Ford, not just through insurance, but with genuine empathy and responsibility from the automaker.
Source: Fox 2 Detroit
