NHTSA Complaint #10157559 — 2002 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE PARKED AT A STOP LIGHT WHITE SMOKE CAME FROM THE HEATING VENT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE DASH BOARD. THE SMOKE BEGAN TO TURN BLACK AND FLAMES ERUPTED FROM THE DASHBOARD VENT. THE CONTACT PULLED OFF OF THE ROAD. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE HOWEVER, THEY COULD NOT DETERMINE THE SOURCE OF THE FIRE. PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT, THE CONTACT SMELLED SOMETHING SIMILAR TO PLASTIC BURNING. THE CONTACT REPORTED THE SAME SMELL INTERMITTENTLY THREE TO FOUR MONTHS PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THERE WAS A HOSE LEAKING FLUID AND IT WAS REPLACED. THE CONTACT DOES NOT RECALL THE TYPE OF FLUID LEAKING OR THE TYPE OF HOSE THAT WAS REPLACED. THE SMELL CONTINUED HOWEVER, THE DEALERSHIP COULD NOT DETERMINE THE SOURCE OF THE SMELL. UPDATED ON 05/30/2006. *AK