NHTSA Complaint #10470423 — 2006 DODGE DURANGO

WE WERE DRIVING OUR 2006 DODGE DURANGO FOR ABOUT 5 MINUTES WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE DASH BOARD LIGHTS STARTED FLASHING. MY HUSBAND WAS ABLE TO VEER OFF THE ROAD ON A SIDE STREET AND COAST DOWN INTO A PARKING LOT. BY THIS POINT THE CAR WAS COMPLETELY UNRESPONSIVE. SMOKE STARTED TO COME OUT OF THE VEHICLE VENTS ON THE DASHBOARD. WE THOUGHT MAYBE A PART BROKE AT FIRST. MY HUSBAND OPENED THE HOOD AND THERE WAS NO VISIBLE FIRES AND NOT A LOT OF SMOKE. SMOKE STARTED COMING MORE AND MORE QUICKLY OUT OF THE VENTS. WE GOT OUR 3 CHILDREN OUT OF THE CAR. BY THIS POINT SMOKE WAS BILLOWING OUT. MY HUSBAND RAN INTO A BUILDING AND CALLED FOR HELP. THE BUSINESS GAVE US A FIRE EXTINGUISHER AND CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. AS MY HUSBAND RAN BACK TO THE DURANGO FLAMES HE SAW THE DASHBOARD START TO COLLAPSE. NEXT THING WE KNEW FLAMES WERE FLYING UP THE FRONT WINDOW. HE USED THE FIRE EXTINGUISHER ON IT. THE FIREMAN ARRIVED AND HELPED MAKE SURE THE FIRE WAS COMPLETELY OUT. *TR