NHTSA Complaint #10292250 — 1998 DODGE DURANGO

I OWN A 1998 DODGE DURANGO AND I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM OLYMPIA WITH MY SON IN THE BACK SEAT, HE WAS A SLEEP. THE VEHICLE STALLED OUT AND I DRIFTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, I SMELT A FUNNY SMELL AND IMMEDIATELY GOT MY SON OUT OF THE VEHICLE. WE WERE ON A BUSY HIGHWAY. THE VEHICLE THEN WAS ENGULFED IN BLACK SMOKE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE DASH, THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR WAS SOON FILLED WITH FLAMES, ALL THIS HAPPENED WITHIN A MATTER OF MINUTES. THE VEHICLE HAD 141,000 MILES ON IT AND HAD NO PREVIOUS SIGNS OF PROBLEMS. THE POLICE REPORT AND EVERYTHING STATES THE FIRE WAS AN ELECTRICAL FIRE ORIGINATING FORM UNDERNEATH THE DASHBOARD. I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO, WE ONLY HAD LIABILITY INSURANCE AND IT DOES NOT COVER WHAT HAPPENED. I JUST KEEP THINKING WHAT IF MY OTHER TWO CHILDREN WAS IN THE VEHICLE WITH ME, THEY WOULD HAVE PROBABLY BEEN A SLEEP AND IT WOULD BE EXTREMELY HARD FOR ME TO GET ALL THREE OF THEM OUT 2,5 AND 7 ON A BUSY HIGHWAY. HAS THERE BEEN ANY OTHER SCENARIO'S LIKE THIS? THE ENTIRE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED THE DASH, SEATS, ETC ALL MELTED AND BURNT. THE FIRE DEPT. WAS DISPATCHED AND THEY HAD TO PUT OUT THE FIRE. I CAN PROVIDE POLICE REPORT, ETC. THAT WILL BACK UP WHAT WE JUST SAID, THE FIRE DID NOT AFFECT ANYTHING UNDER THE HOOD, JUST THE INTERIOR. *TR