NHTSA Complaint #11174262 — 2016 CHRYSLER 200

CONDUCTED PRE-TRIP SAFETY INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE. ALL LIGHTS, MIRRORS, GAUGES, AND SAFETY BELTS APPEARED TO BE IN GOOD WORKING ORDER. THERE WERE NO ACTIVE WARNING LIGHTS, FUEL LEVEL WAS APPROXIMATELY , AND ODOMETER LOG WAS ACCURATE. THE VEHICLE SHOWED NO SIGNS OF MECHANICAL DEFECTS TO INCLUDE VIBRATIONS, UNUSUAL NOISES, OR ODORS DURING INITIAL OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS RELATIVELY CLEAN INSIDE AND OUT. THE ONLY UNUSUAL DETAIL WE NOTICED WAS THE PRESENCE OF SEVERAL TICKS (PARASITES) INSIDE THE VEHICLE. 0900: ARRIVED ON SITE AT BLUE SPRINGS LAKE AND PARKED THE VEHICLE ON A GRAVEL ROAD WITH OTHER GOV VEHICLES. 1000: DROVE VEHICLE APPROXIMATELY THREE MILES TO A GAS STATION TO USE RESTROOM AND RETURNED TO WORKSITE. THE VEHICLE, ONCE AGAIN, FAILED TO EXHIBITED ANY ABNORMALITIES. 1315: LEFT WORKSITE TRAVELING EASTBOUND ON HWY 40 AT 55 MPH. ALL FOUR WINDOWS WERE UP WITH AC ON FULL. AMBIENT TEMPERATURE WAS APPROXIMATELY 90F. 1320: SLOWED TO APPROXIMATELY 35MPH AS WE APPROACHED A RED LIGHT. I NOTICED WHITE SMOKE IN THE REARVIEW MIRROR. WE CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP AT THE LIGHT AND OBSERVED WHITE AND BLACK SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I IMMEDIATELY TURNED OFF THE AIR CONDITIONER AND CHECKED THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE (25% OF MAX). I PULLED INTO THE RIGHT TURN LANE AND DROVE APPROXIMATELY 50 FEET TO AN EMPTY PARKING LOT. WE EXITED THE VEHICLE AND OBSERVED ORANGE FLAMES UNDERNEATH THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. I INSTRUCTED MR. BAKER TO CALL 911 AND REPORT THE FIRE ALONG WITH OUR LOCATION. I SEARCHED FOR A FIRE EXTINGUISHER UNDER THE SEATS AND IN THE TRUNK WITHOUT SUCCESS. A FEW SECONDS LATER A GOOD SAMARITAN IN A WORK TRUCK STOPPED AND KNOCKED DOWN THE FLAMES WITH HIS FIRE EXTINGUISHER. MILEAGE = 42,351