← NHTSA complaints

2000 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

fire · 488027 · 2004-08-02

Vehicle

Make
DODGE
Model
GRAND CARAVAN
Year
2000
Manufacturer
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC)
Component
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
Speed
20 mph

Severity

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

Narrative

ON FEBRUARY 8, 2004, HERMAN LINO, CO OWNER OF CAR, CALLED ME TO REPORT SOME TROUBLE WITH THE DODGE CARAVAN. THE RED LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CRUISE CONTROL LIGHT ALSO CAME ON. HE PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE AND FELT THAT THE ENGINE WAS WARM. HE OPENED THE HOOD AND SAW SOME SMOKE WHICH HE THOUGHT MAY HAVE BEEN FROM AN OVERHEATED ENGINE. I TOLD HIM, BY PHONE, TO ADD SOME COOLANT TO THE RADIATOR. HE PURCHASED A CONTAINER BUT THE RADIATOR ONLY TOOK 1/2 OF THE CONTAINER. AFTER A WHILE, THE RED LIGHT AND CRUISE LIGHT WENT OFF SO HE STARTED THE CAR TO DRIVE HOME WHICH WAS ABOUT 2 MILES AWAY. AS HE ASCENDED A SLIGHT INCLINE, HE SAW SMOKE COMING OUT OF BOTH SIDES OF THE HOOD, MORE FROM THE DRIVER'S SIDE. HE IMMEDIATELY STOPPED THE CAR, TURNED OFF THE ENGINE AND STEPPED OUT TO THE FRONT OF THE CAR. HE OPENED THE HOOD AND SOMETHING IMMEDIATELY BURST INTO FLAME. THE FLAME WAS ABOUT 5-10 FT HIGH. HERMAN SAID IT LOOKED LIKE A HOUSE ON FIRE. HE STEPPED BACK WHEN ANOTHER EXPLOSION ERUPTED. POLICE AND FIREMEN CONVERGED ON T HE SCENE AND AFTER THINGS COOLED DOWN, AN INSPECTION WAS MADE. A REPORT FROM THE FIRE DEPT WAS ISSUED. THE FIRE ERUPTED ABOUT 8PM. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO ACE TOWING ABOUT 5 MILES AWAY FROM THE SCENE THE CAR HAD LESS THAN 15,000 MILES, IS IN GOOD SHAPE AND HAD REGULAR SERVICE AT THE DODGE DEALER. THE ENTIRE ENGINE WAS BURNED AND NEEDS REPLACEMENT. THERE'S A LARGE HOLE IN THE WINDSHIELD WHEN THE FIRE ENTERED THE VEHICLE. TOP OF THE DASHBOARD SUSTAINED MEL

Source

Authoritative
NHTSA ODI Flat-File Downloads
ODI Number
10083167
Machine
JSON-LD · Markdown