NHTSA Complaint #10722182 — 2015 JEEP CHEROKEE

I WENT OUT TO START MY CAR AT AROUND 8:40AM ON MAY 28. WHEN I PUSHED THE BUTTON TO START IT, I HEARD A POP FOLLOWED BY SMOKE. I THOUGHT MAYBE SOMETHING WAS UNDER THE CAR SO I BACKED UP THE CAR APPROXIMATELY 2 FEET AND THEN TURNED IT OFF. I WENT INSIDE TO GET MY HUSBAND, HE CAME OUT AND OPENED THE HOOD AND I TRIED TO START IT AGAIN. IT STARTED RIGHT UP BUT THERE IMMEDIATELY WAS SMOKE AND FIRE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE CAR ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. I TURNED THE CAR RIGHT OFF AFTER MAYBE 5 OR 6 SECONDS. I HAD A MEETING TO GET TO SO I LEFT IN MY HUSBAND'S CAR. WHEN I GOT TO WORK, A RETIRED FIRE FIGHTER SUGGESTED THAT I CALL THE NORWICH TOWNSHIP FIRE DEPARTMENT. BRIAN BEACH CAME TO INSPECT THE CAR. BECAUSE OF ALL OF THE PLASTIC COVERINGS, IT WAS VERY HARD TO SEE ANYTHING THAT WAS WRONG OTHER THAN MELTED PLASTIC FITTINGS. I HAD THE CAR TOWED (AT MY EXPENSE) TO BYERS ON HAMILTON ROAD. TODAY, I SPOKE WITH THE SERVICE MANAGER, RON BROWN, WHO SAID THAT HE DIDN'T THINK THAT THE CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE. HE FEELS THAT THE TENSIONER BELT BROKE AND THAT IS WHY I SMELLED BURNED RUBBER AND THERE WAS SO MUCH SMOKE. EITHER WAY, THIS IS A BRAND NEW CAR AND SHOULDN'T BE HAVING ANY ISSUES.