NHTSA Complaint #10928823 — 2014 DODGE DART

ATTENTION: CHRYSLER (FCA) HAS A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH THEIR CARS CATCHING ON FIRE. THEY ARE IN DENIAL AND ARE GIVING EVERYONE THE RUN AROUND. THE WORD IS OUT IF YOU HAVE A DODGE DON'T PARK IT IN YOUR GARAGE. THEY CAN CATCH ON FIRE JUST SITTING, NOT EVEN RUNNING OR DRIVING. THESE FIRES ALL SEEM TO START AROUND THE BATTERY COMPARTMENT. FCA IS RECALLING VEHICLES IN THE U.S. FOR A DEFECT THAT CAN RESULT IN A VEHICLE FIRE. SOME ALTERNATORS HAVE AN ISSUE THAT CAN CAUSE A SHORT CIRCUIT, RESULTING IN A STALLED ENGINE OR VEHICLE FIRE. THEY HAD JUST PUT A BRAND NEW MOTOR IN THIS CAR. SMOKE WAS COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD, SO I OPEN THE HOOD AND THERE WERE FLAMES EVERYWHERE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT PUT OUT THE FIRE.THIS HAS HAPPENED TO SEVERAL OF THESE CARS, ONE YOUNG GIRL ALMOST DIDN'T GET OUT IN TIME. I HATE TO THINK ABOUT KIDS IN CAR SEATS IF YOU COULD GET THEM OUT IN TIME. THESE CARS BURN UP QUICKLY. THE INSURANCE AND THE DEALERSHIP TOLD US IT'S A MANUFACTURERS PROBLEM. FCA NOVEMBER 15, 2016 DEAR [XXX]: THIS IS IN REGARDS TO THE INSPECTION THAT WAS PERFORMED ON YOUR 2014 DODGE DART. 'WE HAVE REVIEWED YOUR RECENT FIRE REPORT WITH DEEP CONCERN. NEEDLESS TO SAY, WE SINCERELY REGRET THE UNFORTUNATE FIRE THAT OCCURRED. AFTER OUR INSPECTION OF YOUR VEHICLE, THE INFORMATION AT HAND WOULD NOT PERMIT US TO ASSOCIATE THE FIRE WITH A MANUFACTURING OR ASSEMBLY ERROR. WE ARE SURE YOU WILL APPRECIATE, FIRES OF THIS NATURE CAN AND DO OCCUR FOR A NUMBER OF REASONS NOT ASSOCIATED WITH THE MANUFACTURING PROCESS. IN THE ABSENCE OF ANY SUBSTANTIATING EVIDENCE INDICATING THAT THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS ATTRIBUTED TO A CONDITION EXISTING IN THE VEHICLE WHEN IT LEFT OUR MANUFACTURING PLANT, WE FIND IT NECESSARY TO DENY RESPONSIBILITY IN THIS MATTER. THANK YOU FOR CALLING THIS TO OUR ATTENTION. SINCERELY, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR