NHTSA complaint: 2003 JAGUAR S-TYPE — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
HAD JUST RETRIEVED CAR FROM DEALER SERVICE. WITHIN 10 BLOCKS, CAR'S BRAKES ENGAGED AND CAR SKIDDED TO STOP IN CENTER TURN LANE (LUCKY ME THAT I WAS NOT REAR-ENDED). DSC AND PARK BRAKE LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED. MOMENTS LATER, FLAMES SHOT FROM RIGHT FRONT ENGINE COMPARTMENT BETWEEN HOOD AND FENDER. EXITED CAR AND CALLED FD AND JAG SERVICE MGR FOR TOW TRUCK. EXPERIENCED BURNING EYES AND INSIDE OF LIPS PEELED NEXT DAY FROM ACID BURNS (BURNING PVC EMITS CHLORINE GAS OR HCL GAS THAT IS CORROSIVE WHEN WET - AS IN EYES AND LIPS. JAGUAR NA NOT RESPONSIVE TO ANY DEGREE TO DATE - WANT MY COMPANY TO FILE INSURANCE CLAIM FOR DAMAGES. INS ADJUSTER PROVIDED OPINION THAT IT WAS JUST ELECTRICAL FAULT FROM EITHER: ALTERNATOR RAN AWAY; OR ABS SOLENOID OVERHEATED; OR FUSEBLOCK SHORTED; OR VOLTAGE REG. SHORTED. ALL WERE APPARENTLY DAMAGED BEYOND RECOGNITION. INITIAL ESTIMATE TO REPAIR SET AT $20,000. LATENT SMELL IN CAR WILL BE DIFFICULT OR IMPOSSIBLE TO CORRECT. JAGUAR NA (JNA) RESPONSE TO DATE IS TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE - NO CONTACT WHATSOEVER TO SEE IF I WAS HURT OR IF I COULD PROVIDE CLUES AS TO WHAT HAPPENED. DEALER RESPONDING OK BUT ADVISES THAT HANDS TIED BY JNA. *LA
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — Office of Defects Investigation