NHTSA Complaint #11092256 — 2015 JEEP PATRIOT

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 JEEP PATRIOT. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND TURNED OFF THE ENGINE. AT THAT POINT, THE CONTACT NOTICED FLAMES COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. AN OFF DUTY POLICE OFFICER WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS NOT NOTIFIED AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TOW LOT AND THEN TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V878000 (STEERING) AND ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE BE TOWED TO THE JEEP CHRYSLER DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO SAFFORD CHRYSLER JEEP DODGE OF SPRINGFIELD (7611 LOISDALE RD, SPRINGFIELD, VA 22150) WHERE THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT IT WAS A DIFFICULT CASE. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT TO CALL THE MANUFACTURER TO OPEN A CASE REGARDING THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND CASE NUMBER: 34002244 WAS OPENED. THE MANUFACTURER ALSO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THEY WOULD SEND A THIRD PARTY FIRE INSPECTOR TO INVESTIGATE THE FAILURE AND DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE BY MAY 4, 2018. TO DATE, THE INVESTIGATOR HAD NOT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,261.