NHTSA Complaint #10166143 — 1999 DODGE STRATUS

I WAS IN MY 1999 DODGE STRATUS ALL OF MAYBE 15 MINUTES TRAVELING TO THE STORE. I TURNED IT OFF AND WENT IN THE STORE FOR MAYBE 5 MINUTES. I STARTED MY CAR AGAIN AND TRAVELED TO A FRIENDS HOUSE MAYBE 10 MINUTES FROM THE STORE. I WAS IN THEIR HOME PROBABLY 10 MINUTES TOPS. WHEN I WENT TO LEAVE I NOTICED SMOKE COMING OUT FROM UNDER MY HOOD AND FLAMES SHOOTING OUT FROM UNDER THE FRONT OF MY CAR. WE TRIED UNSUCCESSFULLY TO PUT THE FIRE OUT. WHEN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT FINALLY ARRIVED MY CAR WAS TOTALLY ENGULFED IN FLAMES. I HAD LIABILITY INSURANCE SO I JUST LOST MY CAR BECAUSE IT WAS TOTALED. THEN IN APRIL OF 2006 I GET A RECALL (E23) FROM DAIMLER CHRYSLER AND I AM TOTALLY AMAZED. THIS IS PROBABLY WHAT HAPPENED TO MY CAR. I NOTIFIED DAIMLER CHRYSLER AND THE SENT SOMEONE OUT TO TAKE PICTURES OF MY CAR AND THEN SENT ME A LETTER DENYING MY CLAIM. THE SAME COMPLAINTS WHICH ALERTED THEM OF THE PROBLEM WITH THE POWER STEERING FLUID HOSE AND CAUSED THIS RECALL TO BE MADE, ARE THOSE WITH ALMOST EXACT CIRCUMSTANCES AS MYSELF. SO WHAT DO I DO NOW? THE GENTLEMAN AT CUSTOMER CLAIMS RESOLUTION GROUP FOR DAIMLER CHRYSLER STRESSED TO ME TO HIRE AND ATTORNEY. SO THIS IS WHAT I WILL BE DOING WITHIN THE NEXT FEW DAYS. *NM