NHTSA Complaint #702720 — 1996 DODGE CARAVAN

THE VAN CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE WE WERE GETTING GAS,THE ENGINE WAS OFF.THE FIRE DEPARTMENT HAD TO COME AND PUT OUT THE FIRE.THE FIRE CHIEF SAID THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTOR GOT TOO HOT, CAUGHT THE WIRING SYSTEM ON FIRE, AND BURNED A HOLE IN THE FUEL LINE. HE SAID AS WE WERE GETTING GAS WE WERE FEEDING THE FIRE.ALL MY CHILDREN WERE IN THE CAR WHILE IT WAS BURNING. THE FIRE DEPT. FILED AN OFFICIAL REPORT. CHRYSLER INVESTIGATED, KEPT US WAITING FOR A MONTH. THEN SAID THEY WERE NOT RESPONSIBLE. THEY WON'T LET US SEE THE REPORT. THEY WON'T LET US SPEAK TO A SUPERVISOR. WE HAVE NOT TOUCHED THE CAR SINCE THE ACCIDENT BECAUSE IT MAY BE EVIDENCE. THE INSPECTOR TOLD US OFF THE RECORD THAT THERE WERE HOLES BURNED IN THE TOP OF THE GAS COMPARTMENT. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS.ANOTHER MECHANIC QUESTIONED WHETHER OR NOT THE CONVERTOR WAS SHIELDED AND WAS A SAFE DISTANCE FROM THE GAS COMPARTMENT. *AK