NHTSA Complaint #10188518 — 2004 DODGE DURANGO

ON THE MORNING OF APRIL 14, 2007, I WAS DRIVING HOME WHEN THE INSTRUMENTAL PANEL ON MY DODGE DURANGO 2004 BEGAN TO SMOKE. IT WAS A MATTER OF SECONDS BEFORE THE SMOKE TURNED BLACK AND THICK. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND CALLED 911. IT WAS A MATTER OF SECONDS BEFORE FLAMES CAME BLASTING OUT OF THE ELECTRICAL PANEL OF MY VEHICLE. THE FIRE SPREAD VERY QUICKLY THROUGH THE PLASTIC ON THE DASHBOARD BREAKING THE WINDSHIELD. THANKFULLY, A GENTLEMAN THAT HAPPENED TO LIVE NEAR BY, BROUGHT OUT A FIRE EXTINGUISHER MANAGING TO PUT OUT THE FLAMES AS THE POLICE GOT THERE, FOLLOWED BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. THE POLICE THEN DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT PROCEEDED TO HOSE DOWN THE ENTIRE CAR AS A PRECAUTION SINCE THE CAR STILL WAS EXTREMELY HOT TO THE TOUCH. I IMMEDIATELY REPORTED THE INCIDENT TO THE INSURANCE COMPANY. AFTER SOME RESEARCH, I FOUND A RECENT RECALL FOR THE SAME YEAR AND MODEL OF MY VEHICLE. HOWEVER, UNTIL TODAY, APRIL 22, 2007 I STILL HAVEN'T GOT A LETTER OF NOTIFICATION FROM DAIMLER CHRYSLER. EVEN WORSE, THEY HAVEN'T EVEN HAD THE COURTESY TO RETURN MY NUMEROUS PHONE CALLS. I INITIALLY FILED THE COMPLAIN WITH THEM ON APRIL 16, 2007. ITS BEEN OVER A WEEK AND I STILL HAVEN'T HEARD A WORD. ACCORDING TO THE INSURANCE ADJUSTER, MY CAR IS A TOTAL LOSS, WHICH IT MEANS THAT I NOT ONLY NEED TO COME UP WITH A DOWN PAYMENT FOR ANOTHER VEHICLE, WHICH I CAN'T AFFORD AT THE MOMENT, BUT THAT I ALSO LOST FAITH IN THE CHRYSLER CORPORATION. I REFUSE TO RISK MY CHILDREN'S LIFE IN ANOTHER CHRYSLER VEHICLE. FOR NOW I WANT DAIMLER CHRYSLER TO FACE THEIR RESPONSIBILITY. MEANWHILE, I HAVE BEEN CARELESS AND I HAVE NO WAY TO GET TO SCHOOL (I AM A FULL TIME COLLEGE STUDENT) OR TO GET MY CHILDREN TO THEIR NORMAL ACTIVITIES. THE CHRYSLER CORPORATION SAYS THAT THEY CAN'T AUTHORIZE A RENTAL UNTIL WHENEVER THEIR ADJUSTER CONTACTS ME. I HAVE CALLED THEM AT LEAST FIVE TIMES WITH NO RESPONSE. *TR