NHTSA Complaint #10132716 — 2000 PLYMOUTH BREEZE

SO LAST NIGHT, I WANDER OVER TO A BBQ HELD BY SEVERAL OLD FRIENDS OF MINE. I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING SOME FOLKS I HAVEN'T SEEN IN A WHILE, AND LET'S FACE IT - I LOVE PARTIES. I'M THERE FOR ALL OF 5 MINUTES, AND I'M JUST GETTING AROUND TOWARD SAYING HELLO TO SOME FRIENDS WHEN SOMEONE YELLS OUT THAT THERE'S A FIRE UNDER ONE OF THE CARS OUT ACROSS THE STREET. WE RUSH TO THE FRONT YARD, AND LO AND BEHOLD, THERE'S SPARKS AND WHAT LOOKS TO BE A FIRE CRACKER OR FLARE UNDERNEATH THE FRONT END - OF MY CAR! WE GRAB THE FIRE EXTINGUISHERS FROM THE KITCHEN AND GARAGE AND RUSH OUT TO TRY TO PUT OUT WHAT WE'RE SIMPLY ASSUMING IS A PRANK BY A KID IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. WITHIN 30 SECONDS, WE REALIZE THERE'S FLAMES UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. WE TRY TO OPEN IT, BUT THE HEAT IS GETTING TO BE A BIT MUCH. AT THAT POINT I YELL AT EVERYONE TO GET AWAY FROM MY CAR AND I CALL 911. WE MOVE THE NEAREST VEHICLES AND EVERYONE GETS BACK TO THE HOUSE. TWO OF MY FRIENDS TRY TO RUSH BACK OUT TO OPEN THE HOOD AGAIN AND THE RADIATOR EXPLODES. AGAIN, I YELL THAT I HAVE INSURANCE ON THE CAR AND FOR EVERYONE TO GET THE HELL AWAY FROM IT. WITHIN MINUTES, ROLLING FLAMES HAVE ENGULFED MY CAR, AND WITH NOTHING ELSE WE CAN DO BUT WAIT FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, I ASK MY FRIEND ARON (WHO OWNS THE HOUSE THERE) TO GET HIS CAMERA. WITH MY CAMERA PHONE AND HIS MINOLTA, WE START TAKING PICTURES OF THE CARNAGE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT SHOWS (WITHIN 3 MINUTES OF THE INITIAL CALL, TOO) AND PUTS OUT THE BLAZE. AN ARSON INSPECTOR SHOWS AND STATES THAT IT'S SIMPLY MECHANICAL FAILURE - THAT IT'S THE FAULT OF THE CAR ITSELF. CAR IS/WAS A 2000 PLYMOUTH BREEZE. *JB