NHTSA Complaint #10348436 — 2008 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN

TL*THE CONTACT OWNED A DODGE GRAND CARAVAN XLT. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED THE CONTACT NOTICED WHITE SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE NEAR THE WINDSHIELD. A PASSENGER ATTEMPTED TO MOVE THE VEHICLE AND BLACK SMOKE WAS ON THE OUTSIDE AND INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. FIRE WAS ON THE GROUND AND THE FLAMES WERE 5 FEET TALL. SHE WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FLAMES WITH CANS OF SODA. THE CONSUMERS HUSBAND JUMPED IN THE VEHICLE TO BACK IT UP AND AS HE DID, THE VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER. THE PASSENGER STATED THAT FOUR TREES AND THE GRASS CAUGHT FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED AND THE VEHICLE EXPLODED. A NEIGHBOR EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE IN THE TREES AND GRASS; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO BURN. A SHERIFF AND FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORT WERE FILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT NO ONE WAS INJURED. SINCE SHE HAD A HEART CONDITION, A PARAMEDIC CAME AND GAVE HER OXYGEN. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 25,000. UPDATED EVOQ 09/20/10 PRIOR TO THE FIRE, THE AIR CONDITIONER CRUISE CONTROL AND READ PASSENGER DOOR STOPPED WORKING. UPDATED EVOQ 11/09/10*JB