NHTSA Complaint #10172172 — 2001 DODGE INTREPID

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING 50 MPH ON DRY ROAD CONDITIONS, A THUMPING NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE FRONT END, AND SMOKE ESCAPED FROM UNDER THE HOOD. ALSO, SMOKE ENTERED THE CAB AT THE SAME TIME THE THUMPING SOUND OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER AND FLAMES ERUPTED FROM UNDER THE HOOD SECONDS LATER. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CONTACTED, EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE AND DETERMINED THAT THE FIRE WAS CAUSED BY AN AIR CONDITIONER HOSE THAT BLEW UP. NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT TAKEN. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER INSPECTED BY A CERTIFIED MECHANIC, WHO DETERMINED THAT THE AIR CONDITIONER HOSE WAS TOO CLOSE TO THE MANIFOLD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE RESIDENCE AND HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CONTACT PLANNED TO CONTACT THE MANUFACTURER AFTER FILING A COMPLAINT WITH THE NHTSA. *AK