NHTSA Complaint #10515710 — 2005 CHRYSLER PACIFICA

WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY I GLANCED IN MY REAR-VIEW MIRROR AND NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM OUT THE BACK OF MY PACIFICA. I PROCEEDED TO EXIT THE FREEWAY AT THE NEAREST EXIT AND THE CAR JERKED AND MADE A NOISE. I TOLD MY TWO DAUGHTERS WHO WERE IN THE CAR WITH ME NOT TO PANIC AND THEN DROVE TO THE NEAREST GAS STATION. I ASSUMED THE CAR WAS OVERHEATING AND WHEN I PULLED UP TO THE PUMP TO PUT IN COOLANT, SOMEONE IN THE CAR NEXT TO ME TOLD ME MY CAR WAS ON FIRE. THREE GOOD SAMARITANS PUSHED MY CAR AWAY FROM THE GAS PUMP, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED, AND I WATCHED THE FRONT END OF MY CAR BURST INTO FLAMES. THE ONLY SALVAGEABLE PART OF THE CAR WAS THE REAR AREA. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT HOSED IT DOWN WITH WATER AND HAD TO USE AN AX TO BREAK OPEN THE HOOD OF THE CAR. THE CAR WAS A TOTAL LOSS AND I HAVE CONTACTED CHRYSLER WHO WILL SEND SOMEONE OUT TO INVESTIGATE THE CAUSE. I AM AWAITING ON A RESPONSE FROM THEM CURRENTLY. *TR