NHTSA Complaint #10078299 — 2000 DODGE NEON

I OWNED A 2000 DODGE NEON. I LAST DROVE THE VEHICLE ON MAY 25, 2004 AND IT HAD BEEN PARKED OUTSIDE MY APARTMENT SINCE THAT TIME. ACCORDING TO THE POLICE REPORT, ON MAY 27, 2004 AT ABOUT 2:45AM MY CAR WHILE PARKED OUTSIDE MY APARTMENT CAUGHT ON FIRE. I WAS UNAWARE OF THIS AND WAS ASLEEP IN MY APARTMENT AT THAT TIME. ACCORDING TO THE POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENT, THE FIRE WAS CONFINED TO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND HAD TO BE PUT OUT BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. ACCORDING TO THE INSURANCE FIRE INVESTIGATOR, THE HEAT FROM THE FIRE WAS SO INTENSE AND ENGINE AND FRONT END DAMAGE SO SEVERE THAT HE WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE AN OFFICIAL CAUSE BUT SUSPECTED THE FIRE TO BE ELECTRICAL IN NATURE. OFFICIALLY ACCORDING TO MY INSURANCE, THE CAUSE IS UNKNOWN. MY INSURANCE DETERMINED MY VEHICLE TO BE A TOTAL LOSS. I HAVE NO REASON TO EXPECT ARSON OR THAT IT WAS DELIBERATELY SET FIRE. THE POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS ALSO DID NOT SUSPECT ARSON AND ARE NOT PURSUING FURTHER INVESTIGATION. THE CONSEQUENCE OF THIS FIRE WAS A BIG FINACIAL LOSS FOR ME(BASED ON MY ANNUAL INCOME) DUE TO THE INSURANCE REIMBURSING ONLY HALF THE ORIGINAL COST OF THE CAR. I ALSO AM THANKFUL THAT I WAS NOT OPERATING THE VEHICLE WHEN THIS HAPPENED WHICH COULD HAVE CAUSED ME SERIOUS INJURIES. I DID HAVE TWO PRIOR ACCIDENTS TO THE FRONT END OF THIS VEHICLE WITH ONE OF THE CRASHES REQUIRING THE ENGINE TO BE REMOVED AND PUT BACK IN. THIS CRASH, HOWEVER, TOOK PLACE OVER A YEAR AGO AND I HAD NO PROBLEMS WITH THE NEON UP UNTIL MAY 27, 2004. AS A RESULT, I DO NOT SUSPECT THE PRIOR REPAIRS TO BE THE CAUSE OF THIS FIRE. WITH THE RECENT RECALL OF THE CHRYSLAR PT CRUISER, I THOUGHT I SHOULD REPORT THIS NEON ENGINE FIRE TO PROTECT OTHER NEON OWNER'S SAFETY.