NHTSA Complaint #10186573 — 2004 DODGE DURANGO

AT APPROXIMATELY 2 PM ON MARCH 24, 2007, MY 2004 DODGE DURANGO CAUGHT FIRE IN THE DRIVEWAY AT HOME. WE ARRIVED AT HOME AT APPROXIMATELY 12:00 IN THE AFTERNOON ON SATURDAY AFTER DRIVING THE VEHICLE APPROXIMATELY ONE HOUR (RURAL DRIVING). I WENT INSIDE FOR APPROXIMATELY TWO HOURS AND WHEN I WENT OUTSIDE TO LEAVE, I NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM A WHOLE IN THE WINDSHIELD. THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WAS ON FIRE. I CALLED FOR MY HUSBAND TO COME OUTSIDE AND HE IMMEDIATELY CALL THE LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED WITHIN A FEW MINUTES AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS (PURSE, TWO CAR SEATS, CLOTHES, UMBRELLAS, CDS, ETC.) I HAVE NOT RECEIVED AN OFFICIAL RECALL NOTICE FROM DAIMLER CHRYSLER CORPORATION. AFTER SEARCHING ONLINE AFTER THIS INCIDENT, I FOUND A LETTER FROM THE US DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION REGARDING ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT PANEL RECALL. THE LETTER STATED THAT RECALL NOTICES WILL BE SENT IN APRIL 2007. AFTER FIVE DAYS, OUR INSURANCE COMPANY (STATE FARM) WILL NOT COVER THE PAYOFF AMOUNT DUE ON THE VEHICLE. DAIMLER CHRYSLER CORPORATION HAS NOT ACCEPTED ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS INSTRUMENT PANEL FIRE. THEREFORE, WE ARE LEFT WITHOUT A VEHICLE, $2,700 LOAN BALANCE AND LOSS OF PERSONAL BELONGING. *JB