NHTSA Complaint #10562440 — 2012 DODGE CHARGER

ON 11/30/13 I DROVE MY CAR TO TOWN. WHEN I RETURNED HOME, MY FAMILY AND I DECIDED TO GO DO SOME CHRISTMAS SHOPPING, MAINLY FOR YARD DECORATIONS. INSTEAD OF DRIVING MY CAR, WE TOOK OUR OTHER VEHICLE. WE WERE GONE APPROX 2 HRS. WHEN WE RETURNED HOME, I ENTERED THE HOUSE WITH MY SON AND TURNED THE TV ON FOR HIM AND PROCEEDED TO FIX A PLATE FOR SUPPER, WHICH TOOK MAYBE 15 MINS. I PUT THE PLATE IN THE MICROWAVE AND HEARD THE HORN BLOW, LIKE THE ALARM WENT OFF, ON MY CAR. I WENT TO THE DOOR TO DISCOVER THAT THERE WERE FLAMES INSIDE THE CAR. I CALLED 911 WHILE MY HUSBAND RAN OUT TO TRY AND EXTINGUISH THE FIRE, WHICH HE MANAGED TO DO BEFORE THE FIRE DEPT ARRIVED. I REPORTED THE INCIDENT TO CHRYSLER, WHO REPORTED BACK TO ME THAT THEY ARE DENYING IT IS A MECHANICAL ISSUE. THE FIRE INVESTIGATOR FOR METLIFE REPORTS THAT HIS FINDINGS SHOW THERE WAS A SHORT UNDER THE PASSENGER SEAT WHICH JUST SMOLDERED UNTIL A SPARK IGNITED SOME PAPERS IN THE FLOORBOARD. A FEW DAYS BEFORE THIS HAPPENED, I STARTED TO WORK AND THE CONTROL PANEL ON MY CAR HAD COMPLETELY LOCKED UP. I HAD TO STOP AND RESTART MY CAR MORE THAN ONCE BEFORE THE PANEL UNFROZE. THE ONLY OTHER PROBLEM I HAD PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT WAS THAT A MESSAGE STARTED SHOWING UP THAT THE KEY WAS NOT DETECTED WHILE I WAS IN THE CAR. THE INCIDENTS COULD BE TOTALLY UNRELATED BUT WAS ADVISED TO MENTION IT JUST IN CASE. *TR