NHTSA Complaint #11290039 — 2016 DODGE JOURNEY

VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY AND REMOTE STARTED FOR ABOUT 5 MINUTES. WE LOADED UP OUR CHILDREN IN THE CAR AND STARTED SMELLING A STRONG PLASTIC/RUBBER BURNING SMELL THAT STINGS IN THE THROAT. THE SMELL WAS COMING OUT OF THE HEAT VENTS, COULD BE SMELLED OUTSIDE THE CAR AND UNDER THE HOOD. WE SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE AND I LOOKED FOR THE SOURCE OF THE BURNING, BUT DIDN'T IMMEDIATELY FIND IT. AFTER SOME TIME WE RESTARTED AND WAITED ABOUT 5 MINUTES AND IT CAME BACK AGAIN. THIS TIME I LOCATED A GLOWING RED CHASSIS GROUND STRAP WIRE THAT WAS BURNING OFF THE COATING. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO MY HOUSE FOR INSPECTION DURING DAYLIGHT HOURS. I NOTICED THAT THE METHOD OF ATTACHMENT OF THE SHEET METAL CLIP TO THE MOTOR MOUNT SEEMS DUBIOUS AS THIS TYPE OF CONNECTION MAY CAUSE HIGH ELECTRICAL RESISTANCE AND LEAD TO HEAT BUILD-UP. FORTUNATELY THIS HAPPENED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND WE WERE WAITING ON WARM-UP. HAD MY WIFE JUST DRIVEN OFF THE SMOKE SMELL WOULD HAVE BEEN A DISTRACTION AND COULD LEAD TO INCREASED CRASH RISK. ALSO WHEN THE WIRE FINALLY BURNED AND DISCONNECTED THE CIRCUIT, THE VEHICLE COULD HAVE STALLED IN AN VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION AND LEAD TO A CRASH. PHOTOS ADDED *DT *DT *DT*JB*JB *DT *TP*DT*DT*JB*DT*JB*DT*JB