NHTSA Complaint #11121846 — 2017 JEEP COMPASS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2017 JEEP COMPASS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE COMPUTER SYSTEM SHUT OFF WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STILL RUNNING. THE COMPUTER SYSTEM REBOOTED AND A "STOP THE VEHICLE" WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT VARIOUS OTHER UNKNOWN WARNING INDICATORS ALSO ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STOPPED THE VEHICLE AND ALMOST IMMEDIATELY OBSERVED SMOKE OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE FOLLOWED BY FLAMES FROM THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD. THE CONTACT USED AN INSTRUMENT TO BREAK THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR AND ESCAPED FROM THE BURNING VEHICLE. WITHIN TWO MINUTES, THE ENTIRE VEHICLE BECAME ENGULFED IN FLAMES. FIRE AND POLICE REPORTS WERE FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES THAT DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED. THE CONTACT CALLED AN UNKNOWN DEALER WHO DID NOT WANT TO BE INVOLVED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND THE MATTER WAS REFERRED TO THEIR LEGAL TEAM AND THE INSURANCE COMPANY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 12,000. *BF *TR *BF OWNER STATES THAT DURING THE EVENT, LOST BRAKING BUT WAS ABLE TO USE THE SHIFTER (ELECTRONIC, POLYSTABLE) TO DOWNSHIFT THE CAR TO SLOW DOWN. OWNER STATES THAT "COMPUTER" REBOOTED, AS IT HAD DONE BEFORE. MOST LIKELY REFERENCING THE VEHICLE'S INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM. OWNER STATES THAT HE USED A GLASS PUNCH TO BREAK THE DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW AND EXIT THE VEHICLE. 12,000 MILES ACCORDING TO THE OWNER. UPDATED 10/30/18 *JB