NHTSA Complaint #712259 — 1997 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN

WE RETURNED HOME AT 1:00 PM. WE WERE LEAVING AGAIN AT 1:20 PM. MY WIFE NOTICED THE VEHICLE SMOKING IN THE DRIVEWAY. THE KEY WAS NOT IN THE IGNITION AND THE CAR WAS NOT RUNNING. I OPENED THE HOOD AND NOTED A SMALL FIRE DOWN NEAR THE OIL FILTER. WE CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. THEY ARRIVED AND STATED THE PROBABLE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS A SHORT CIRCUIT AT OR NEAR THE STARTER. DODGE WAS CONTACTED AND BEGAN A FILE (#6224504) ON THE EVENT. THEY SENT A REPRESENTATIVE, MIKE GIGANTE, TO OUR HOME ON 09/16/99 TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE. HE COULD NOT SPECIFICALLY SAY WHAT CAUSED THE FIRE BUT HE DID STATE THAT THE FIRE OCURRED AT THE STARTER. WE ARE NOT PRIVY TO THE REPORT FILED BY MR. GIGANTE. DODGE CLAIMS THAT A LETTER WAS MAILED TO US ON THE 21ST OF SEPTEMBER. TODAY IS THE 27TH OF SEPTEMBER AND WE HAVE NOT RECEIVED IT. THE WOMAN AT CUSTOMER SERVICE READ THE LETTER TO ME ON 09/27/99 WHICH STATED THAT THE FIRE WAS NOT CAUSED BY A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT AND THAT THEY ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE COST OF REPAIRS. THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE TO US. WE STILL DO NOT KNOW WHAT CAUSED THE FIRE; WE CURRENTLY HAVE NO CONFIDENCE IN THE VEHICLE EVEN IF IT IS REPAIRED UNLESS WE KNOW THE CAUSE ; DODGE'S RESPONSE IS UNACCEPTABLE TO US; THEY HAVE NOT MADE ANY REASONABLE CONCLUSION AS TO THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE. AFTER WE GET THE BURNT STARTER MOTOR REPLACED COULD IT SPONTANEOUSLY SHORT CIRCUIT AND CAUSE A FIRE AGAIN? WE HAVE THREE YOUNG CHILDREN AND FEAR DRIVING THE CAR AFTER IT IS REPAIRED. WE CANNOT PARK THE CAR ANYWHERE WITHOUT WONDERING WHAT COULD HAPPEN IF A FIRE STARTS AT NIGHT TIME OR WHEN THE CAR IS PARKED OUTSIDE OR INSIDE OUR ATTACHED GARAGE. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS MATTER; WE ARE CONCERNED FOR OURSELVES AS WELL AS FOR OTHERS DRIVING THE 1997 GRAND CARAVAN.