NHTSA complaint: 2001 DODGE DURANGO — STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP
ON APRIL 26, 2004 I ARRIVED AT A BUSINESS MEETING AND PARKED MY 2001 R/T DURANGO, AND SET MY ALARM WITH THE KEYLESS ENTRY. FROM MY CLIENT'S OFFICE I NOTICED WHITISH/GRAY SMOKE AND OBSERVED THAT THE SMOKE WAS BILLOWING FROM UNDER THE HOOD OF MY TRUCK! I RUSHED OUTSIDE.UPON ARRIVING IN THE PARKING LOT I WAS STOPPED BY THE POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENT FROM APPROACHING MY DURANGO AS THEY WERE AFRAID IT MIGHT EXPLODE.THE FLAMES WERE ALREADY FOUR FEET ABOVE THE HOOD.THE FIRE TOOK MY ENGINE, BUMPERS, LIGHTS, HOOD, FENDER, LEFT FRONT TIRE & SEVERALLY DAMAGED THE CAR DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF MINE & SLIGHTLY DAMAGED THE CAR TO THE LEFT CORNER. STATE FARM'S INVESTIGATION DETERMINED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY THE IGNITION OF POWER STEERING FLUID ONTO HOT SURFACES OF THE EXHAUST SYSTEM WITH THE FIRE EXTENDING UPWARD AND OUTWARD, CAUSING THE DAMAGE PRESENT" WHICH WAS THE TOTAL LOSS OF MY VEHICLE. I FILED A SPECIAL INVESTIGATION REPORT WITH CHRYSLER AND THEY SENT ME BACK A LETTER STATING THAT MY CLAIM WAS DENIED. IN OTHER WORDS NOTHING WAS DONE BY CHRYSLER TO CORRECT THE FAILURE ALTHOUGH STATE FARM IS IN SUBROGATION AS THEY FOUND SEVERAL TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS # 19-005-03 AND 19-009-00 THAT THEY FEEL PERTAINED TO THIS EVENT.THE THIRD PARTY FIRE INVESTIGATOR INFORMED ME THAT THIS HAPPENED BEFORE, AND THAT THE PERSON THAT CHRYSLER SENT TO INSPECT VEHICLE WAS NOT A LICENSED FIRE INSPECTOR, AND THAT MR. PITT (CHRYSLER'S REP.) WAS NOT QUALIFIED TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE.I WROTE A L
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — Office of Defects Investigation