NHTSA Complaint #10182219 — 2004 DODGE DURANGO

MY 2004 SLT DODGE DURANGO WAS SERVICED FOR A ROUTINE OIL CHANGE @42000 MILES AND THE DEALERSHIP DID A ROUTINE POINT CHECK EVALUATION. ON FEB. 10, 2007 @ 10:45 AM WHILE STOPPING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO LOSE SPEED BEFORE COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP, THE ENGINE STOPPED RESPONDING & THE PANEL LIGHTS STARTED BLINKING ON & OFF, THEN A BURNING SMELL STARTED & SMOKE STARTED TO COME OUT OF THE DRIVERS PANEL AND I EXITED THE VEHICLE BEFORE PHYSICAL HARM COULD BE DONE TO ME. I CALLED 911 AND THEY HAD THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO RESPOND. MY VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY ENGULFED WITH FLAMES BEFORE THEY ARRIVED. THE ENTIRE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE WAS BURNED BEYOND RECOGNITION. IT WAS EXTREMELY UNNERVING TO BE A PART OF THIS,I HAD NOT HAD ANY PROBLEMS OUT OF MY VEHICLE BEFORE THIS HORRIBLE INCIDENT. IT IS JUST UNTHINKABLE TO REALIZE THAT I HAVE BEEN DRIVING MY TWO KIDS IN MY DURANGO EVERY DAY FOR THE PAST 2 YEARS AND THANKS TO THE LORD ABOVE THAT THEY WERE AT HOME ON THIS MORNING, WHILE I WENT TO PICK UP THE GIRL SCOUT COOKIE ORDERS FOR MY DAUGHTER, WHICH WERE IN THE BACK OF THE DURANGO WHEN IT WENT UP IN SMOKE. THIS INCIDENT WILL FINANCIAL IMPACT MY FAMILY GREATLY. THE CAR IS NOW A TOTAL LOSS. *JB