NHTSA Complaint #10661148 — 2005 CHRYSLER PACIFICA

WHILE DRIVING FROM CANADA (MONTREAL) TO LARGO (FLORIDA) THE CHRYSLER PACIFICA 2005 STARTED TO LOOSE POWER AND SPEED (HIGHWAY 75 NEAR BROOKSFIELD, FL). I COULD NOT DRIVE THE CAR ON THE SHOULDER AS A TEMPORARY CEMENT WALL WAS ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE FOR CONSTRUCTION. A FEW SECOND LATER, AS THE CONSTRUCTION SITE WAS OVER I PULLED MY CAR ON THE SHOULDER AND 3 CARS HAD ALREADY STOPPED (THEY SAW THE FIRE UNDERNEATH MY CAR)AND THE DRIVERS WAVED AT ME TO STOP. I TRIED TO STOP ON THE SHOULDER BUT I DIDN'T HAVE ANY BRAKES ON THE CAR. FORTUNATELY, THE HIGHWAY WAS GOING UP SO THE CAR STOPPED BY ITSELF AND STARTED GOING BACKWARDS. I TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL TO BE ABLE TO STOP IN THE GUARD RAIL AND THEN FIRE WAS COMING OUT FROM THE MOTOR (OUT OF THE FENDERS). THE 3 PERSON MENTIONED TO ME THAT THE FIRE WAS COMING OUT FROM UNDERNEATH THE MOTOR WHILE DRIVING SO THAT WAS THE REASON THEY STOPPED TO INDICATE THE FIRE. MY MOTHER IN LAW (80 YEARS OLD WITH PACE MAKER) AND MYSELF HAD ONLY A FEW SECONDS TO EXIT THE CAR BECAUSE BLACK SMOKE WAS ALREADY IN THE CAR. I LOST EVERYTHING IN THE FIRE (MEDICATION, CLOTHING, PASSPORT, WALLET, ETC...) AS MY MOTHER IN LAW LIVES IN FLORIDA, I AM FILING THIS COMPLAINT FOR HER AND FOR MYSELF ALSO. I AM A HEALTH AND SAFETY COORDINATOR AND I WISH THAT THIS SITUATION NEVER COMES BACK IN THE FUTURE. FORTUNATELY, I AM STILL ALIVE TO EXPLAIN THIS INCIDENT. *TR