NHTSA Complaint #10319998 — 2008 DODGE AVENGER

ON MARCH 5, 2010 (FRIDAY) - APPROXIMATELY 5:30 P.M., WHILE DRIVING ON SUNRISE HIGHWAY IN LONG ISLAND, NEW YORK, AN INDICATOR LIGHT WENT ON INSIDE MY 2008 DODGE AVENGER, IN THE SHAPE OF A LIGHTNING BOLT IN MY CAR. LITERALLY 30 SECONDS LATER, AND BEFORE THERE WAS TIME TO REACT AT ALL, MY BRAKES STOPPED WORKING AND THERE WAS NO WAY TO STOP MY VEHICLE. I HAD JUST ABOUT MADE IT TO THE EXIT RAMP WHEN I REALIZED BY LOOKING IN THE REARVIEW MIRROR THAT THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM MY CAR. AS I HAD STEERED ONTO THE EXIT RAMP, I OPENED THE DOOR AND SAW FLAMES SHOOTING FROM THE UNDERNEATH PART OF MY CAR. WITHOUT THINKING TWICE I JUMPED FROM THE MOVING VEHICLE (WHICH AT THE TIME STILL WAS GOING AT ABOUT 20 MPH). I WAS NOT HURT PHYSICALLY BUT WAS EXTREMELY SHAKEN UP. ANOTHER TRAVELER WHO HAD PULLED UP ON THE SERVICE ROAD TO HELP ME, INFORMED ME THAT THE CAR WAS ON FIRE FOR AT LEAST 1/4 OF A MILE ON THE HIGHWAY AND THAT HE HAD BEEN ATTEMPTING TO FLAG ME DOWN. AFTER I HAD ESCAPED THE VEHICLE, THE CAR CONTINUED IN A DIAGONAL PATH TOWARD ONCOMING RUSH HOUR HIGHWAY TRAFFIC. THE FIRE CONTINUE TO BURN AND HAD BECOME VERY BAD, TO THE POINT WHERE THE ENTIRE FRONT HALF OF THE CAR WAS ABLAZE. THE ONLY THING THAT STOPPED THE OUT OF CONTROL VEHICLE WAS A WIRE FENCE IN THE DIVIDER BETWEEN THE SERVICE ROAD AND MAIN HIGHWAY. THE INSURANCE COMPANY AND MANUFACTURER ARE CURRENTLY IN THE PROCESS OF INVESTIGATING. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TOOK AT LEAST 15-20 MINS TO RESPOND WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO BECOME SEVERELY DAMAGED TO THE POINT WHERE IT IS NOW EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO ASCERTAIN A CAUSE. MY INSURANCE ONLY COVERED MY CAR LOAN AND NOW I AM OUT MONEY FOR THE DOWN PAYMENT ON A NEW VEHICLE. THIS SITUATION IS VERY SERIOUS. THERE COULD HAVE BEEN CHILDREN OR ELDERLY PERSONS IN THE VEHICLE WHO COULD HAVE DIED. PLEASE HELP ME INVESTIGATE THIS ISSUE. I CONSIDER MYSELF LUCKY TO STILL HAVE MY LIFE AND EVALUATE THE SITUATION AS HAVING INITIATED A DUTY TO KEEP OTHERS SAFE FROM DANGERS OF THE SAME. *TR