NHTSA Complaint #10703058 — 2011 DODGE DURANGO

THERE WAS AN ELECTRICAL FIRE INSIDE THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE FROM WITHIN THE HEADLINER, DIRECTLY ABOVE THE DRIVERS HEAD, WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. THE DRIVER WAS FORCED TO PULL OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AS THE CABIN FILLED WITH SMOKE DUE TO VISION AND RESPIRATORY DISTRESS. THERE WAS ALSO ADDITIONAL DAMAGE TO THE EXTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE ON THE ROOF, AS THE FIRE BURNED LONG AND HOT ENOUGH TO CAUSE AN UNKNOWN AMOUNT OF STRUCTURAL AND COSMETIC DAMAGE TO THE ROOF. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS ALSO CALLED TO THE SCENE DURING THE INCIDENT TO INSURE THE FIRE WAS COMPLETELY EXTINGUISHED. WE INITIALLY HAD OUR VEHICLE AT A LOCAL DODGE DEALERSHIP ON 02/23/15 TO HAVE MULTIPLE MANUFACTURER RECALLS REPAIRED. ONE OF WHICH WAS DUE TO A POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD FROM THE VANITY/SUN VISOR WIRING IN THE HEADLINER (CHRYSLER RECALL P36). THAT RECALL WORK WAS COMPLETED, BUT WE BEGAN TO EXPERIENCE ELECTRICAL ISSUES WITH EQUIPMENT THAT OBTAINED POWER AND GROUND (SAME ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT AND FUSE) FROM THIS SAME CIRCUIT. INTERIOR LIGHTS WOULD FLASH AND DIM, AND THEN ULTIMATELY CEASED TO FUNCTION, THEN OUR STEERING WHEEL MOUNTED CONTROLS STOPPED FUNCTIONING ENTIRELY. WE RETURNED THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP ON 3/23/15 AFTER TALKING WITH THE DEALERSHIP THAT PREVIOUS WEEK. THEY EXPLAINED THAT A "PINCHED WIRE" FROM WITHIN THE HEADLINER HAD CAUSED AN ISSUE IN THE CIRCUIT. HOWEVER, THEY INSISTED THAT THIS PINCHED WIRE DID NOT CAUSE THE STEERING WHEEL CONTROLS TO STOP FUNCTIONING (WHICH MADE THE STEERING WHEEL CONTROL MODULE INOPERABLE DUE TO ELECTRICAL SHORT), EVEN THOUGH THEY SHARED THE SAME WIRING. WE WERE ABLE TO RETRIEVE OUR VEHICLE AFTER ADDITIONAL REPAIRS WERE COMPLETED ON 3/27/15. THE CAR WAS DRIVEN ONE TIME ON 3/28/15, AND THEN ON 3/29/15 THE FIRE STARTED FROM WITHIN THE CABIN. *TR