NHTSA Complaint #10140047 — 2000 DODGE STRATUS

AFTER DRIVING MY VEHICLE A SHORT DISTANCE TO THE LOCAL STORE, I PARKED MY VEHICLE AND ENTERED THE STORE. APPROXIMATELY. 15 MINUTES LATER THE TAG NUMBER OF VEHICLE WAS ANNOUNCED OVER THE INTERCOM SYSTEM, STATING THAT THE OWNER NEED TO REPORT TO THE PARKING LOT IMMEDIATELY. I WENT TO THE PARKING LOT TO FIND THAT MY VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE UNDER THE HOOD. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED AND WAS EXTINGUISHING THE FLAMES BEFORE I WAS ABLE TO GET TO MY CAR. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT HAD BROKEN THE DRIVER'S DOOR WINDOW TO GAIN ACCESS TO THE HOOD RELEASE. THE ENTIRE ENGINE HAD APPEARED TO BE BURNED. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO RALLYE DODGE IN OCALA FLORIDA WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED BY OUR INSURANCE COMPANY THAT IT WAS A TOTAL LOSS. DOMINICK, ONE OF THE MECHANICS AT RALLYE DODGE SAID THAT THERE WAS NO WAY OF DETERMINING THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE AND THE CAR COULD BE REPAIRED AT A COST OF APPROX. $5000. BACK ON MARCH 16, 2005, I HAD TO REPLACE THE PCM AT THE SAME DEALER AT A COST OF $999.91. NOW 7 MONTHS LATER I AM OUT A $1000 COMPUTER AND A $5000 CAR. WHAT HAPPENS NOW? HOW AND WHEN WILL CHRYSLER BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE POOR ENGINEERING OF THEIR VEHICLES? *JB