NHTSA Complaint #10437309 — 1998 JEEP WRANGLER

PURCHASED MY JEEP NEW IN 1998 AND I ONLY DROVE IT ABOUT 5000 MILES PER YEAR..IN ABOUT 2009 I BEGAN TO HAVE SOME TROUBLE WITH THE GAUGES/SPEEDOMETER..THEY WOULD STOP FUNCTIONING FOR PERIODS OF TIME...IN ABOUT 2010 I THERE WAS AN ODOR COMING FROM THE VENTS WHEN I USED MY HEATER OR AC..EACH TIME I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER WHERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AND THE LAST TIME I HAD IT CHECKED WAS THE END OF SEPTEMBER 2011. ON NOVEMBER 21, 2011 I WAS DRIVING TO THE GROCERY STORE WITH THE HEATER ON AND SMOKE STARTED COMING OUT OF THE VENTS..I TURNED OFF THE HEATER & BLOWER & THEN SAW FIRE COMING OUT FROM UNDER THE DASH ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. I STOPPED & TRIED TO PUT OUT THE FLAMES WITH MY JACKET. A LADY STOPPED TO HELP & CALLED 911. WHILE WAITING FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT (JUST A FEW MINUTES) AND I WAS SITTING IN THE LADY'S CAR...I WATCHED MY JEEP START MOVING TO THE RIGHT (EVEN THOUGH THE IGNITION WAS TURNED OFF & THE JEEP WAS IN GEAR)...IT WENT INTO A GRASS FIELD, BURST INTO FLAMES AND WAS A TOTAL LOSS. I ONLY HAD MINOR BURNS ON MY FINGERS & HANDS (FROM TRYING TO PUT OUT THE FIRE). I AM EXTREMELY UPSET! *TR