NHTSA Complaint #744672 — 2000 DODGE NEON

ON APRIL 23, 2001, I WAS DRIVING FROM CAPE COD TO MY HOME IN CAMPTON, NH. THE EMISSIONS CONTROL WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND AS I WAS PULLING INTO THE RIGHT LANE TO FIND AN EXIT THE CAR BEGAN LOSING POWER. AS I APPROACHED EXIT 38, ON INTERSTATE 93N, SMOKE STARTED COMING OUT OF EXHAUST AND BY THE TIME I REACHED THE END OF THE EXIT THE CAR STALLED WHICH WAS GOOD BECAUSE MY BRAKES WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. WHEN THE CAR STALLED THE INTERIOR BEGAN FILLING WITH BLACK SMOKE AND I GRABBED MY DOG BY THE COLLAR AND EVACUATED THE CAR. SECONDS AFTER, THE CAR BURST INTO FLAMES WHICH SHOT OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. BY THE TIME THE FIRE TRUCKS ARRIVED THE CAR WAS BURNED BEYOND REPAIR, INCLUDING ALL MY PERSONAL BELONGINGS INSIDE THE CAR.*AK