NHTSA complaint: 2018 JEEP RENEGADE — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The contact owns a 2018 Jeep Renegade. The contact stated that after his daughter had driven the vehicle, parked, and powered off, 7 hours later, the interior passenger side panel of the door was engulfed in flames, which had by that time blackened the glass. The driver's boyfriend witnessed the flames originating from the glove compartment and attempted to extinguish the fire by hand, which failed but resulted in him sustaining injury to his right hand. The boyfriend was eventually able to extinguish the flames by disconnecting the battery. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard but had yet to be deemed a total loss by the contact's insurance provider. A fire report was not filed. A police report was not filed, but injuries were reported. The driver's boyfriend later transported himself to an area hospital and was treated for minor burns to his right hand. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, a case was opened, and the contact was informed that the manufacturer intended to send an investigator to inspect the vehicle at the tow yard. The contact was later informed that a manufacturing defect was not deemed the cause of the fire and that he would receive no further assistance. The failure mileage was 47,000.
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — Office of Defects Investigation