NHTSA Complaint #10278238 — 2003 DODGE DAKOTA

MY HUSBAND AND I HAD DRIVEN OUR 2003 DODGE DAKOTA QUAD CAB ABOUT FOUR OR FIVE MILES WHEN WE SMELLED SMOKE. MY HUSBAND LOOKED IN OUR REAR VIEW MIRROR AND NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM BETWEEN THE CAB AND TRUCK BED NOT FROM THE ENGINE AREA. AT THE SAME TIME, I GLANCED IN THE SIDE MIRRORS AND SAW SOMETHING LIQUID (OR MELTED) DRIPPING BEHIND US ON FIRE IN THE ROAD AND LEAVING A BURNING TRAIL ON THE ASPHALT. WE IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER (THANK GOD THERE WAS A SPOT TO DO SO!) BUT HAD NO BRAKES. DUE TO THE SANDY NATURE OF THE DIRT AND SLIGHT UPHILL HE WAS ABLE TO THROW IT INTO PARK. I BAILED OUT MY SIDE AND RAN. RANDY TRIED TO EXIT HIS SIDE, BUT THE FLAMES WERE ALREADY TOO HIGH SO HE LUCKILY WAS ABLE TO GET OUT MY SIDE AS WELL. THE ENTIRE UNDERSIDE OF THE TRUCK WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES AND WHEN RANDY HIT THE GROUND HE NOTICED WHAT HE THOUGHT WAS THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER HANGING DOWN AND ON ALSO FIRE. THE TRUCK EXPLODED ABOUT 10 - 15 SECONDS AFTER WE ESCAPED. THIS WAS A WELL MAINTAINED VEHICLE BOTH INSIDE AND OUT AND WE HAD ABSOLUTELY NO WARNING THAT WE WERE IN ANY DANGER OR THAT THERE WAS ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE TRUCK. *TR