NHTSA Complaint #10241385 — 2008 DODGE AVENGER

I PURCHASED A 2008 DODGE AVENGER WITH A LITTLE 21,000 MILE ON IT. ON 07/29/2008 I PULLED INTO THE BANK TO MAKE A WITHDRAWAL. IN LESS THAN 20 SECONDS OF ARRIVING AT THE BANK DRIVE THROUGH I NOTICED SMOKE. THE SMOKE APPEARED TO BE COMING FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE CAR. I THEN PULLED OUT OF LINE TO SEE WHERE THE SMOKE WAS COMING FROM. AFTER TURNING THE VEHICLE OFF. SMOKE THEN BEGAN TO INTENSIFY AND SPARKS SHOOTING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. FIRE THEN BEGAN TO BLAZE FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND THEN THE ENTIRE FRONT OF THE CAR WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. I LATER SEARCH ONLINE THAT THE CAR HAD 4 RECALLS DATING BACK TO 11/2007 THAT RESULTED IN FIRE AND 2 RECALLS AFTER 11/2007. I DID NOT HAVE ANY KNOWLEDGE OF THESE RECALLS UNTIL AFTER THE FIRE. I PURCHASED THE CAR IN 03/2008. *TR