NHTSA Complaint #10905138 — 2003 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY

I PURCHASED THE VAN FROM A PRIVATE OWNER 2 HOURS PRIOR TO THIS HAPPENING. HE TOLD ME IT OVERHEATS SOME. I CALLED MY CHRYSLER MECHANIC IN MT. VICTORY, OH AND ASKED HIM IF HE COULD LOOK AT HIM. HE TOLD ME TO BRING IT DOWN. I WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 35MPH ON ST RT 31 S AND IT STARTED OVERHEATING. I PULLED OVER AND TURNED IT OFF. SMOKE WAS COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I WAS CALLING FOR A TOW AND I HEARD THE SOUND OF FIRE CRACKLING AND SMOKE WAS COMING THROUGH THE VENTS. I IMMEDIATELY GOT OUT OF THE VAN AND TOLD THE PERSON I WAS TALKING TO I NEEDED TO CALL 911 BECAUSE IT SOUNDED LIKE THE VAN WAS ON FIRE. FLAMES AND HEAVY SMOKE STARTED SHOOTING OUT FROM UNDER THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE HOOD. I HAD CALLED 911. THE HARDIN COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPT, OHIO STATE HIGHWAY PATROL, KENTON FIRE DEPARTMENT, AND BKP AMBULANCE SERVICE ARRIVED. I SMELLED SO BAD OF SMOKE AND WAS SHAKEN UP BUT THANK GOD I GOT OUT OF IT BEFORE IT BECAME ENGULFED IN FLAMES!!! IT GOR SO HOT THAT ANYTHING PLASTIC AND RUBBER UNDER THE HOOD MELTED. THE DRIVER'S SIDE MIRROR EVEN MELTED!!