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2007 DODGE NITRO 4X4 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

fire · 1154911 · 2015-02-05

Vehicle

Make
DODGE
Model
NITRO 4X4
Year
2007
Manufacturer
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC)
Component
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Miles at failure
82,000
Speed
15 mph

Severity

Deaths
0
Injured
0
Fire
Yes
Crash
No
Police report
No
Medical attention
No
Vehicle towed
No

Narrative

DROVE VEHICLE THROUGH A PARKING AREA FOR ABOUT TWO BLOCKS AT ABOUT 15 MPH WHEN ALL LIGHTS, DASH LIGHTS, WINDSHIELD WIPERS, WINDSHIELD WASHERS, RADIO, ALARM, AND AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS TURNED ON OR ENGAGED. I PULLED OVER, SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE, REMOVED THE KEYS, BUT ALL OF THE LIGHTS, SYSTEMS, ALARM, ETC., CONTINUED TO OPERATE. SMOKE BEGAN RISING FROM THE HOOD, AND I ATTEMPTED TO EXIT THE VEHICLE. THE DOOR LOCKS KEPT ENGAGING AND LOCKING ME IN THE CAR EVERY TIME I TRIED TO PULL ON THE MANUAL DOOR LOCK BUTTON. I WAS ABLE TO REACH OUT THE WINDOW TO MANIPULATE THE EXTERIOR DOOR HANDLE IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE LOCK ENOUGH TIMES THAT THE DOOR POPPED OPEN. AS I EXITED THE VEHICLE, FLAMES BEGAN TO SHOOT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. WITHIN FOUR MINUTES, THE VEHICLE WAS ENTIRELY ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED QUICKLY (LESS THAN 5 MINUTES), BUT THE FIRE SPREAD QUICKLY - LIKELY BECAUSE THE ELECTRICAL FIRE MELTED THE FUEL LINE AND GASOLINE FED THE FIRE (ACCORDING TO ONE OF THE FIREFIGHTERS). THE CAR AND THE CONTENTS ARE A TOTAL LOSS. IT WAS FORTUNATE THAT THE WEATHER WAS NICE ENOUGH THAT I CHOSE TO DRIVE WITH THE WINDOW OPEN, OR I WOULD HAVE HAD TO KICK OUT THE WINDOW TO EXIT THE VEHICLE. VERY TRAUMATIC. *TR

Source

Authoritative
NHTSA ODI Flat-File Downloads
ODI Number
10681652
Machine
JSON-LD · Markdown