NHTSA Complaint #10511542 — 2010 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN

THE DISTANCE WAS ABOUT 35 MILES FROM OUR HOME, BOUT 45 MINUTES DRIVE. DRIVER DIDN'T NOTICE ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE ENGINE OR SEE ANY WARNING LIGHTS. THE CAR WAS SWAYING LIKE ON A WINDY DAY, ANOTHER CAR HONKED AT US, THEN WE HEARD LOUD ROAD NOISE. WE PULLED OVER AND TURNED OFF THE ENGINE. SAW THE REAR PASSENGER TIRE WAS FLAT TO THE RIM. NOTICED A SMOKY SMELL. SAW LITTLE PUFFS OF WHITE SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. TO BE SAFE WE REMOVED CHILDREN FROM THE CAR; TWO 4 YR OLD CHILDREN WERE IN THE BACKSEAT BUCKLED IN THEIR CAR-SEATS. INFANT WAS IN THE MIDDLE DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BUCKLED IN HIS CAR SEAT. DRIVER AND CAR OWNER WERE IN THE FRONT. KEYS WERE REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION. WE WALKED AWAY FROM THE VEHICLE, WAITED AT THE FENCE-LINE AWAY FROM THE VEHICLE WHILE CALLING FOR A TOW. SMOKE APPEARED TO HAVE STOPPED FOR ABOUT 5 MINUTES. SUDDENLY BLACK SMOKE STARTED POURING OUT OF THE ENGINE, EMBERS DROPPING TO THE ROAD FROM UNDER THE FRONT OF THE CAR. WE MOVED THE CHILDREN FURTHER AWAY FROM THE VEHICLE. SEVERAL TRUCKERS PULLED OVER AND BROUGHT FIRE EXTINGUISHERS. ONE OPENED THE HOOD FLAMES FLARED UP THE FIRE TRUCK ARRIVED AFTER THE FIRE HAD BEEN EXTINGUISHED. ONE SAID THE FIRE APPEARED TO HAVE STARTED IN THE FAN. THE CHP OFFICER SAID THE FIREFIGHTERS WOULD DISCONNECT THE BATTERY. WHEN WE LOOKED AT THE INSIDE OF THE FRONT OF THE CAR EVERYTHING WAS BURNT AND MELTED, THE HOOD WAS BUCKLED, FRONT GRILL MELTED. THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED BEFORE THE REST OF THE CAR WAS DAMAGED. *TR