NHTSA Complaint #11209548 — 2008 DODGE NITRO

STARTED VEHICLE AND DROVE A BLOCK WITH HEATER AND WIPERS RUNNING. THE HEATER SHUT OFF AND ON AND THE HORN STARTED BLARING OFF AND ON. DURING THIS TIME THE LOCKS WERE GOING UP AND DOWN TOO. PULLED OVER, TURNED IGNITION TO THE OFF POSITION AND REMOVED THE KEY. THE ENGINE STILL RAN FOR A LITTLE BIT, HORN STILL BLARING, AND FRONT/BACK WIPERS STILL RAN WITHOUT A KEY IN THE IGNITION. EVENTUALLY THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN WITH EVERYTHING EXCEPT FOR THE WIPERS. THE WIPERS CONTINUED TO RUN UNTIL WE HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED AWAY A COUPLE HOURS LATER. THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM THE FUSE BOX AND A TERRIBLE SMELL OF A MELTING ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN BECAUSE I COULD HAVE BEEN ON THE HIGHWAY TRAVELING OVER 75 MILES PER HOUR IN THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS WHEN THIS ALL OCCURRED. THANKFULLY THIS HAPPENED WHILE EXITING A BUSINESS INSTEAD. RECALL NEEDS TO HAPPEN BEFORE SOMEONE DIES. UNFORTUNATELY THE LOCAL SHOP COULDN'T TAKE MY VEHICLE IN TO INSPECT. TRIED OTHER SHOPS IN NEARBY TOWNS PLUS A DEALERSHIP AND THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO TAKE THE VEHICLE EITHER. SO I EVENTUALLY HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED FROM EAGLE, CO TO THE DENVER METRO. COST ME NEARLY $600 JUST FOR THE TOW TO MY HOUSE. I STILL NEED TO HAVE IT TOWED TO THE LOCAL GARAGE AND ACCESSED. LOOKS LIKE IT WILL COST PLENTY.