NHTSA Complaint #10641008 — 2000 PLYMOUTH BREEZE

WE HAD BEEN HAVING TROUBLE WITH SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. WE THOUGHT IT WAS OIL LEAKING. WE STOPPED AND MY HUSBAND CHECKED UNDER THE HOOD. HE DIDN'T FIND ANY OIL BUT THERE WAS SOME POWER STEERING FLUID ON HIS HAND. HE THOUGHT HE KNEW WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS AND WE COULD MAKE IT TO OUR DESTINATION WHERE HE WOULD TRY TO FIX IT. WHEN WE ARRIVED AT OUR DESTINATION, THE CAR WAS SMOKING SOME. I PARKED IN ONE LOCATION, BUT THEN DECIDED TO PARK IN ANOTHER. AS I TURNED MY STEERING WHEEL TO PARK IN THE OTHER LOCATION, SMOKE BEGAN TO COME FROM UNDER THE HOOD. AS I COMPLETED PARKING, THE SMOKE GOT HEAVIER AND HEAVIER UNTIL FLAMES BEGAN TO APPEAR BY THE WINDSHIELD FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND YOU COULD SMELL RUBBER BURNING. WE IMMEDIATELY EXISTED THE CAR. MY HUSBAND OPENED THE HOOD A LITTLE TO TRY TO STOP THE FIRE FROM SPREADING. EVENTUALLY HE PUT THE FIRE OUT WITH WATER. MOST OF THE WIRING AND HOSES NEAR THE POWER STEERING AREA WERE BURNT OR DAMAGED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. WE HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO A FRIEND'S HOUSE UNTIL WE COULD BUY ALL THE PARTS THAT WERE DESTROYED IN THE FIRE.