NHTSA Complaint #10502974 — 2010 JEEP WRANGLER

OWNER REPORTS: UNEXPLAINED VEHICLE FIRE UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS IN A CITY ROAD. (35-45 MPH) 2010 JEEP WRANGLER WHILE MOVING, OWNER/DRIVER NOTICED SMOKE COMING OUT FROM THE SIDES, FRONT AND INSIDE CABIN AREA, AND THE PERMEATING SMELL OF BURNING PLASTIC AND VEHICLE FLUID(S). IMMEDIATELY, THE POWER-STEERING SYSTEM LOST FUNCTIONALITY WHILE OWNER TRIED TO PULL-OVER TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO MANEUVER PROPERLY AND WITH EASE. WITHOUT ANY PRIOR WARNING FROM VEHICLE THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AREA SUDDENLY CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE VEHICLE WAS STILL MOVING. VISIBLE FIRE FLAMES ENSUED FROM THE HOOD AREA. OWNER IMMEDIATELY STOPPED, TURNED OFF IGNITION AND PROCEEDED TO USE A FIRE EXTINGUISHER. THAT, WHEN OWNER ARRIVED AT FRONT OF VEHICLE, HE SAW FLAMES PROTRUDING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. OWNER PROCEEDED TO OPEN HOOD TO FIGHT FIRE WITH HIS OWN FIRE EXTINGUISHER . OWNER HAD TO, IMMEDIATELY, JUMP-BACK BECAUSE HOT OIL/FLUIDS (POWER STEERING, TRANSMISSION COOLANT FLUID) WAS GUSHING OUT IN MASSIVE AMOUNTS. DESPITE OWNER'S ATTEMPT TO EXTINGUISH FLAMES, THE ENGINES COMPARTMENT AREA, KEPT BURNING UP SINCE AN UNCERTAIN VEHICLE OIL/FLUID KEPT FEEDING THE FIRE. (NOT GASOLINE) BY NOW, ELECTRICAL SPARKS WERE FLYING ON BURNED OUT WIRES. OWNER WAS STERNLY ADVISED TO RETREAT BY POLICE OFFICERS. FIRE DEPT ARRIVED AND FINALLY PUT OUT FIRE. NOTE: PRIOR TO THIS FIRE, NO VEHICLE TROUBLE WAS PRESENT, NOR EVIDENT. DASHBOARD INSTRUMENTS DID NOT INDICATE TO CHECK ENGINE. THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE WAS WITHIN NORMAL RANGE. NO AUDIBLE ALARMS OR VEHICLE WARNINGS WERE HEARD. VEHICLE WORKED FINE BEFORE INCIDENT. THE DEALER'S MAINTENANCE RECORDS WILL SHOW SERVICE PERFORMED 2 MONTHS BEFORE THIS INCIDENT. VEHICLE WAS NEVER INVOLVED IN ANY TYPE OF CAR CRASH OR ACCIDENT. CHRYSLER GROUP HAS CLAIMED; "NO INDICATION OF A MANUFACTURING DEFECT" -CAN NHSTA PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS MATTER?