NHTSA Complaint #10463039 — 2005 JEEP LIBERTY

I WANTED TO INCLUDE MY VEHICLE INCIDENT IN REGARDS TO THE COMPLAINTS ON THE JEEP SUV FIRES. I THOUGHT IT WAS NECESSARY TO INCLUDE MY ENTRY, BECAUSE UNLIKE OTHER INCIDENTS MENTIONED IN THE INVESTIGATION, MY VEHICLE SPONTANEOUSLY CAUGHT FIRE WHILE I WAS DRIVING IT AND WAS NOT THE RESULT OF IMPACT FROM A CRASH. IT WAS A FRIDAY EVENING AND I WAS TRAVELING HOME ON THE HIGHWAY DURING RUSH HOUR TRAVELING WITH THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC AT ABOUT 65 MPH. ALL OF THE SUDDEN, AND WITHOUT WARNING, MY VEHICLE STARTED LOSING SPEED AT A RAPID PACE. THANKFULLY, I WAS IN THE FIRST LANE AND WAS ABLE TO PULL IMMEDIATELY INTO THE BREAKDOWN LANE. ALL OF MY DASHBOARD LIGHTS CAME ON AND WHILE I WAS LEANING OVER TO INSPECT WHAT COULD POSSIBLY BE THE PROBLEM, THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY BURST INTO FLAMES. I EXITED THE VEHICLE SWIFTLY AND LUCKILY A TOW TRUCK DRIVER WHO HAD SAW THE SMOKE IMMEDIATELY CALLED 911. THE CAR WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES IN LESS THEN 5 MINUTES. HAD I NOT BEEN ABLE TO EXIT THE VEHICLE OR HAD CHILDREN RESTRAINED IN THE BACK SEAT, THERE COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUS INJURIES OR POSSIBLY A FATALITY. I REPORTED THE INCIDENT TO CHRYSLER AFTER GOING THROUGH MY INSURANCE. THERE RESPONSE WAS A POLITE LETTER TELLING ME THEY WERE SORRY FOR THE INCIDENT, BUT WERE NOT RESPONSIBLE. THE VEHICLE WAS LESS THAN 2 YEARS OLD AT THE TIME AND SERVICED REGULARLY. THE FINDING OF THE FIRE DEPT.'S INSPECTION WAS INCONCLUSIVE, BUT I WAS TOLD IN CONFIDENCE THAT IT SEEMED MORE THAN LIKELY IT WAS A FAULTY ISSUE WITH THE VEHICLE. AFTER THE INCIDENT, I TOOK MULTIPLE PHOTOS OF THE INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR OF THE JEEP, WHICH INCLUDED UNDER THE HOOD SINCE WE SUSPECTED THE ENGINE WAS AT FAULT. IF THEY ARE USEFUL TO YOUR ONGOING INVESTIGATION, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME SO THAT I CAN EMAIL THEM ALONG. THANK YOU. *TR