NHTSA Complaint #11218494 — 2017 JEEP WRANGLER

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 JEEP WRANGLER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, WITH KEY IN THE IGNITION BUT NOT STARTED, A FIRE STARTED UNDERNEATH THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SEAT. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CONTACTED AND WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. A FIRE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. ADDITIONALLY, THERE WERE TWO OTHER SEPARATE OCCASIONS WHERE THERE WERE FIRES INDEPENDENTLY STARTED IN THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE. THE SECOND AND THIRD FIRES STARTED UNDER THE REAR PASSENGER SEAT AND BEHIND THE GLOVE BOX RESPECTIVELY. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS AGAIN CONTACTED AND WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRES HOWEVER, THE MATTER WAS TURNED OVER TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT TO BE INVESTIGATED AS A POSSIBLE INSURANCE FRAUD CLAIM. THE INSURANCE COMPANY ALSO HIRED A THIRD PARTY INVESTIGATOR TO DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT THE FIRES WERE BEING SET DELIBERATELY. THE BATTERY TERMINALS WERE DISCONNECTED AFTER THE SECOND FIRE. INCIDENTALLY, WHILE THE FIRES WERE BEING INVESTIGATED AT THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FACILITY, THE INVESTIGATOR ALONG WITH THE ADJUSTER FROM STATE FARM INSURANCE EXPERIENCED THE FIRE UNDER THE GLOVE BOX SEVERAL SECONDS AFTER THE BATTERY TERMINALS WERE RECONNECTED. THE MECHANIC WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THOMAS GARAGE LOCATED AT 67791 MALL RD, ST CLAIRSVILLE, OH 43950, (740) 480-1138, WAS CONTACTED BY PHONE AND NOTIFIED OF THE INCIDENT OF THE FIRST FIRE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BY THE THIRD PARTY INVESTIGATOR OF THE FAILURES IN THE VEHICLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000. SEE ALSO 11210791. *DSY