NHTSA Complaint #11422228 — 2007 DODGE NITRO

ENGINE STARTED SMOKING WHILE MY DAUGHTER WAS SITTING IN PARKING LOT AREA FOR ABOUT 30 MIN. ENGINE WAS OFF. SHE GOT OUT OF VEHICLE GRABBING HER DOG FROM THE BACK. SHE RAN INSIDE THE BUILDING TO GET ME (MOTHER) LESS THAN 2 MIN THE SMOKE GRADUALLY GOT HEAVIER AND DARKER THEN FIRE WAS DRIPPING OUT FROM UNDER ENGINE. I TRIED TO POP THE HOOD THINKING IT COULD GET AIR TO MAYBE HELP THE FIRE BUT IT WOULDNT POP UP. I TOOK FIRE EXTINGUISHER TO ENGINE ALONG WITH SOMEONE ELSE. SHORTLY AFTER THE POLICE AND FIRE TRUCKS ARRIVED. THERE WERE SEVERAL CARS SURROUNDING BUT THEY MOVED BEFORE ANY DAMAGE OCCURED. THERE WAS DAMAGE TO THE BUILDING THAT SHE WAS PARKED AT, SOFFIT AND CRACKED WINDOW FROM THE HEAT. THERE WAS ABOUT 20 PEOPLE THAT WITNESSED THE ENTIRE THING. NO PROBLEMS WITH CAR PRIOR TO. THE WEATHER WAS CLEAR SUNSHINE 75 DEGREE'S.