NHTSA Complaint #10481493 — 2007 DODGE NITRO

I DROVE TO THE NEARBY MALL, PARKED MY DODGE NITRO, LOCKED IT, AND WENT INSIDE TO DO SOME SHOPPING AT RADIO SHACK, I CAME BACK OUT AND GOT INTO MY VEHICLE, INSERTED THE KEY AND TURNED THE KEY WHEN I HEARD A VERY LOUD THUMP FROM THE FRONT OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. I HAD NO ELECTRICAL POWER. I GOT OUT OF MY NITRO AND POPPED OPEN THE HOOD AND LOOKED INSIDE AND SAW THAT THE BATTERY HAD EXPLODED, BOTH CAPS HAD BLOWN OFF AND THE TOP OF THE BATTERY WAS CRACKED WIDE OPEN WITH BATTERY ACID POURING OUT. THIS WAS A VERY LOUD THUMP WHEN I TURNED THE KEY. I AM SO THANKFUL I WAS NOT CHECKING MY POWER STEERING FLUID OR SOMETHING LIKE REQUIRING THE ENGINE TO BE STARTED, I COULD POSSIBLY BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED. I CALL THE DODGE COMPLIANT LINE AND MADE A COMPLAINT. THIS WAS A DODGE FACTORY INSTALLED BATTERY. I HAVE PICTURES OF THE BATTERY. I RUINED A GOOD SHIRT AND PAIR OF JEANS GETTING THE BATTERY OUT. I REPLACED THE BATTERY AND SO FAR THE NITRO IS DOING FINE. I WOULD LIKE SOME FORM OF COMPENSATION FROM DODGE FOR CLOTHES THAT GOT RUINED AND FOR REPLACING THE BATTERY. THIS COULD BE A SERIOUS PROBLEM AND DANGEROUS ONE. *TR