NHTSA Complaint #10498201 — 2009 DODGE JOURNEY

AS I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK AND TURNING INTO MY NEIGHBORHOOD I NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE BACK OF MY CAR AS I LOOKED IN THE REARVIEW MIRROR. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ON OTHER THAN MY GAS LIGHT WHICH HAD JUST COME ON ABOUT A MILE BEFORE. I PULLED INTO MY PARKING SPACE AND THE CAR IMMEDIATELY BEGAN SMOKING FROM THE UNDERNEATH THE HOOD, ENOUGH TO ALERT ALL OF THE NEIGHBORS WHO CAME OUT THINKING A HOUSE WAS ON FIRE. I SAW FLAMES COMING FROM THE HOOD ON THE PASSENGER SIDE AS I WAS EXITING THE CAR. ABOUT A MINUTE AFTER I GOT OUT OF THE CAR, THERE WAS A LOUD EXPLOSION FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD, AND THE CAR STARTED TO KICK OUT MORE SMOKE THAN BEFORE. MY NEIGHBOR CAME OVER TO OPEN THE HOOD AFTER A FEW MINUTES. THERE WERE NO MORE FLAMES, BUT THE HEAT SHIELD METAL HAD MELTED FROM THE HEAT, AS DID PARTS OF MY ENGINE, THE ENGINE COVER, HOSES, AND METAL CONNECTIONS. (UNSURE OF THE TRUE MECHANICAL LINGO). THE INCIDENT WAS REPORTED TO MY INSURANCE COMPANY AS A LOSS. *TR