2000 Mercury Grand Marquis steering problems

Consumer lost control at 35 MPH on a gravel road, vehicle hit a tree, then bursted into flames. Consumer suffered minor head injuries, vehicle was totalled. Cause of fire unknown at this time. While driving the consumer had met another driver going south in the middle and tried to miss the other vehicle and lost control. The consumer ran into the woods and hit two small trees and the vehicle then caught fire, which started under the wheel of the drivers side.

On 08/18/2008 my mother took her vehicle to sunnyvale lincoln mercury dealership [408] 732-7000[she purchased the vehicle there] because she was having problems getting the transmission to go in gear using the gear shift handle on the steering colomn. The dealership [invoice 24804, gabriel medina] said the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle drove o.k. It was just hard to go from park to drive. My mother is 86 years old and lives by her self.