NHTSA Complaint #10098140 — 2002 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE

AIR CONDITIONER FAN STOPPED, THOUGHT I HAD IT SET WRONG, CHANGED THE SETTING, STARTED WORKING AGAIN. COUPLE OF WEEKS LATER IT STOPPED AGAIN. THEN IT WOULD WORK INTERMITTANTLY. CALLED DEALER AND THEY SAID CHECK FUSES AND RELAYS, CHECKED OK. CALLED THEM BACK, THEY SAID CHECK WIRING HARNESS FOR MELTDOWN. CONNECTOR AND WIRES GOING TO THE BLOWER WERE MELTED. THEY SAID I NEEDED TO SCHEDULE AN APPT. THEY DID NOT TELL ME TO DISCONNECT WIRES OR THAT I NEEDED TO WORRY ABOUT POSSIBLE FIRE. A COUPLE OF DAYS LATER ON MY WAY HOME, SMOKE STATED COMING OUT OF DASH ON PASSENGER SIDE, I SHUT THE ENGINE OFF. JUMPED OUT AND RAN AROUND TO OTHER SIDE, OPENED FRONT DOOR TO SEE WHAT WAS SMOKING AND FLAMES WERE COMING FROM UNDER THE DASH. RAN TO BACK DOOR AND OPENED TO GET FIRE EXTINGUISHER AND THE SMOKED KNOCKED ME DOWN. CRAWLED AWAY FROM VEHICLE AND STUMBLED TO HOUSE AND CALLED 911. I AM SO THANKFUL MY FAMILY WASN'T WITH ME ESPECIALLY MY 4 YEAR OLD IN HIS CAR SEAT. THE THOUGHT OF IT TERRIFIES ME. I AM STILL HAVING NIGHTMARES OF FIRE AND AM VERY PARANOID OF FIRE. DIAMLERCRYSLER CORP. REFUSES TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY EVEN THO IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRENTY. HAVE SEVERAL WITNESSES TO THE MELTED WIRING HARNESS.*AK