NHTSA Complaint #10043925 — 1997 DODGE RAM 2500

1997 DODGE RAM 2500 EXPERIENCING ENGINE PROBLEMS.*MR CONSUMER BACKED OUT THE DRIVEWAY AND AS THE VEHICLE REACHED THE STREET, THE ENGINE DIED. CONSUMER STARTED THE VEHICLE, AT FIRST IT SEEMED TO HAVE CHOKED THEN WENT ON FINE. THE CONSUMER DECIDED TO GET ANOTHER VEHICLE BECAUSE IT WAS ACTING SLUGGISH. WHEN THE CONSUMER ARRIVED TO THE DIP SHE SMELLED FUMES. IT WASN'T GAS BUT AN OILY SMELL, IT LASTED A FEW SECONDS. CONSUMER WASN'T SURE IF IT WAS HER VEHICLE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF HERS HAD A SMOKING TAILPIPE. THE CONSUMER DECIDED TO PULLED OVER AND PHONED A WRECKER. BEFORE SHE COULD PULL OVER OTHER DRIVERS AND BY-STANDERS WERE INFORMING HER OF SMOKE. SHE DIDN'T SMELL OR SEE ANY SMOKE. WITHIN SECONDS THE ENTIRE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE. THE CONSUMER TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF AND OPENED THE DOOR. FLAMES WERE COMING FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE AS WELL. SHE JUMPED AND LANDED ON THE GRASS AND THAT'S WHEN SHE HEARD A LOUD BANG, LOOKED BACK AND THE ENTIRE FRONT AND INSIDE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. UPON RETURNING HOME SHE CHECKED THE DRIVEWAY FOR ANY FUEL LEAKAGE BUT THERE WASN'T ANY. *PH *JB