NHTSA Complaint #10160825 — 2004 DODGE DURANGO

JUNE 23, 2006 MY DAUGHTER BAILEY CHAPMAN WAS PARTICIPATING IN THE 2006 7-11 SOCCER TOURNAMENT AT THE SAGINAW TOWNSHIP SOCCER COMPLEX LOCATED IN SAGINAW TOWNSHIP, MICHIGAN. THE SOCCER COMPLEX IS LOCATED OFF OF MCCARTY ROAD BETWEEN BAY ROAD AND MACKINAW. HER TEAM WAS SCHEDULED TO PLAY AT 7:30PM. WE WERE INSTRUCTED TO BE AT THE COMPLEX FORTY FIVE MINUTES PRIOR TO GAME TIME. WE DEPARTED OUR HOME AT 6:30PM FOR THE 10 MINUTE DRIVE TO THE COMPLEX. WE PARKED IN AN OVERFLOW TOURNAMENT PARKING LOT TO THE EAST OF THE COMPLEX. THE LOT WAS LOCATED OFF OF MCCARTY ROAD BETWEEN CABARET TRAIL W. AND FORTUNE BLVD. WE PULLED OFF MCCARTY ROAD AND PARKED AT APPROX. 6:45PM. AS I TURNED THE VEHICLE IGNITION OFF, MY WIFE AND I NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE DASH BOARD. IT APPEARED THAT THE SMOKE WAS COMING FROM THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. AT THAT POINT, MY WIFE AND I INSTRUCTED THE TWO OLDER CHILDREN TO EXIT THE VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY. MY WIFE ASSISTED OUR 4 YEAR OLD OUT OF HER CAR SEAT. ONCE EVERYONE HAD CLEARED THE VEHICLE, I OPENED THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE TO CHECK FOR SMOKE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. I SAW NO SMOKE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. ALTHOUGH, I DID SEE A SMALL AMOUNT OF SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE VENTS LOCATED NEAR THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS. I THEN PROCEEDED TO THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. AT THIS TIME THE SMOKE WENT FROM A WHITE/GREY COLOR TO BLACK. MY FIRST RESPONSE WAS TO ORDER MY FAMILY TO MOVE AWAY FROM THE VEHICLE. I THEN CALLED 911 AT 6:48PM TO REPORT A POTENTIAL FIRE IN THE VEHICLE. SHORTLY AFTER THE CALL TO 911, A ROUND FLAME SHOT THROUGH THE DASH (BEHIND THE DRIVER INSTRUMENT PANEL) TO THE WINDSHIELD GLASS. AT THIS POINT I INSTRUCTED MY FAMILY TO GET AS FAR AWAY FROM THE VEHICLE AS POSSIBLE. I MADE A SECOND CALL TO 911 TO REPORT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOW ON FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS ENTIRELY BURNT WITHIN 10-12 MINUTES. *NM