NHTSA Complaint #10543965 — 2005 MITSUBISHI ENDEAVOR

I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE HOME FROM WORK WHEN I SMELLED ELECTRICAL WIRE BURNING THROUGH OUT THE CAR. IT WAS COMING FROM UNDER THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT. I PULLED OFF THE ROAD TO INVESTIGATE. THE CONNECTOR TO THE A/C & HEATER MOTOR WAS CHARRED. DURING INTERNET RESEARCH I DISCOVERED THAT THIS IS VERY COMMON OCCURRENCE. WHAT PEOPLE HAVE SAID ON-LINE WAS THAT IT WAS A POOR DESIGN, THUS THE CONNECTING PINS ARE TOO CLOSE WHICH CAUSES THEM TO HEAT UP AND CHAR THE CONNECTOR. IF I WOULD HAVE HAD A NEW PAPER OR BACKPACK IN THAT AREA, IT COULD CAUSE A FIRE WHILE DRIVING RESULTING IN A FATAL ACCIDENT. I TRIED RECONNECTING, THAT PART I USED WAS CHARRED A SECOND TIME. I BELIEVE IT SHOULD BE RECALLED BY THE MANUFACTURER. *TR