NHTSA Complaint #10284074 — 2004 JEEP LIBERTY

MY 4 YR OLD SON AND I WERE DRIVING DOWN 199 AT ABOUT 45 MPH ABOUT 5:30 AM JULY 13, 2009 WHEN MY 2004 JEEP LIBERTY JUST SHUT OFF, THE ENGINE AND ELECTRIC. I COASTED OVER TO THE SHOULDER, I WAS UNABLE TO TURN ON MY EMERGENCY LIGHTS, I WAS ALSO UNABLE TO UNLOCK THE DOORS, SO I REACHED OVER BEHIND ME AND UNLOCKED MY SONS DOOR, AND GOT OUT OF THE JEEP AND WENT AROUND TO GET MY SON OUT. I WAS A FEW FEET BEHIND MY JEEP AND I CALLED MY BOYFRIEND TO LET HIM KNOW WE WERE STRANDED. WHILE ON THE PHONE I NOTICED FIRE AND SPARKS FALLING UNDERNEATH THE JEEP,I IMMEDIATELY CALLED 911. WHILE ON THE PHONE WITH THE OPERATOR I HEARD A LOUD BANG LIKE A GUNSHOT AND LOOKED AND SAW SMOKE AND FLAMES FROM UNDER THE HOOD, THE 911 OPERATOR TOLD ME TO RUN FROM THE JEEP AND GET AS FAR AS I COULD, I LOOKED BACK AND THE FIRE WAS HUGE . THE FIRETRUCK AND POLICE CAME AND PUT OUT THE FIRE, EVERYTHING FROM THE FRONT SEAT TO THE FRONT BUMPER WAS MELTED. THE WHOLE INSIDE WAS FILLED WITH SOOT AND WATER, THE WINDSHIELD WAS BROKEN. THE FIRE MARSHAL SAID NOT TO EVEN SEND IT TO A SHOP, IT WENT STRAIGHT TO THE JUNKYARD. I HAVE OWNED THIS CAR SINCE BRAND NEW OF MAY 2004, I BOUGHT IT FROM HAYNES JEEP IN RICHMOND. THE ONLY THING THAT HAD EVER BEEN REPAIRED WAS THE STARTER, AND THE FIRE MARSHAL INSPECTED IT AND REASSURED ME THAT THE STARTER HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE FIRE.AFTER THE FIRE I DID LOOK UP RECALLS, THERE WAS ONE THAT CAUSED UNDER THE HOOD FIRES, YOUR CAMPAIGN NUMBER FOR IT IS 04V337000, THE ENGINE AND COOLING JULY 2 , 2004. I SUBMITTED THIS RECALL TO THE FIRE MARSHAL AND HE BELIEVES IT IS THE REASON FOR THE FIRE, AND IT ALSO SAYS SO IN HIS REPORT. I CONTACTED CHRYSLER/JEEP AND THEY REFUSE TO DO ANYTHING, THEY WILL NOT EVEN COME AND LOOK AT THE JEEP. THEY SAY MY VIN DOESN'T FALL INTO THIS RECALL CATEGORY. MY JEEP WAS MADE JUST BEFORE THE RECALL. THEY DENIED MY CLAIM STATING THAT MY WARRANTY WAS OVER, AND THE UPKEEP WAS MY RESPONSIBILITY. I COULDN'T HAVE PREVENTED THE FIRE IN ANY WAY. *TR