NHTSA Complaint #10279405 — 2004 DODGE DURANGO

I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE IN NOV/DEC 2007 FROM DODGE REGARDING A RECALL ON MY 2004 DODGE DURANGO. I IMMEDIATELY MADE AN APPOINTMENT UPON RECEIVING THE NOTICE AND HAD IT REPAIRED ON JAN.2, 2008. THE RECALL WAS FOR A WIRING CLUSTER BEHIND THE INSTRUMENT PANEL , IT WOULD MALFUNCTION RESULTING IN A FIRE. RECENTLY WHILE ON A CAMPING TRIP WITH MY CHILDREN, BROTHER AND SISTER IN LAW AND MY SISTER AND HER FAMILY THE CAR CAUGHT FIRE. IT HAD BEEN PARKED SINCE APPROXIMATELY 5:00 THE DAY BEFORE. WE WOKE UP ON SUNDAY MORNING AND WERE STANDING AROUND THE CAMPFIRE AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE HORN ON MY CAR BEEPED. I IMMEDIATELY CHECKED TO MAKE SURE ALL THE KIDS WERE ACCOUNTED FOR AND THEY WERE. MY 12 YEAR OLD SON RAN DOWN AND YELLED BACK THE CAR WAS ON FIRE. I LOOKED DOWN AND SAW FLAMES SHOOTING FORM THE WINDSHIELD AND THE TOP OF THE CAR. NONE OF US HAD A FIRE EXTINGUISHER BUT SOMEONE YELLED GRAB THE COOLERS BECAUSE IT HAD BOTTLED WATER IN THERE. WE QUICKLY DOUSED THE FIRE WITH WATER AND EXTINGUISHED IT. THE FIRE DEPT. CAME OUT AND SAID THEY BELIEVED THE FIRE STARTED BEHIND THE INSTRUMENT PANEL IN THE DASH. I FILED A REPORT WITH MY INSURANCE AND THE ADJUSTER LOOKED AT THE CAR AND TOTALED AND CONCURRED WITH WHAT THE FIRE DEPT. HAD SAID. I FILED A CLAIM WITH CHRYSLER AND THEIR RESPONSE TO ME WAS THAT "YOUR CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY,WE'RE SORRY BUT WE CAN'T HELP YOU". I AM HIGHLY UPSET ABOUT THIS. IF I HAD BEEN DRIVING THIS CAR WHEN THE PROBLEM OCCURRED NOT ONLY WOULD I HAVE NOT MADE IT OUT BUT MY FOUR CHILDREN(TWO OF WHOM ARE IN CAR SEATS) WOULD HAVE MET CERTAIN DEATH. I NEED YOUR HELP INVESTIGATING THIS. MY CAR IS AT A SALVAGE LOT IN GREENSBORO, NC AND THIS NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED. CHRYSLER DIDN'T EVEN TAKE THE TIME TO LOOK AT IT. THEIR RESPONSE IS NOT RIGHT AND I SHOULD NOT BE PENALIZED FOR THEIR NEGLIGENCE. I REALLY NEED YOUR HELP HERE. THANKS SO MUCH! *TR