NHTSA complaint: 2010 BRAUN TOWN AND COUNTRY — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WHILE ON VACATION WE RENTED A 2010 CHRYSLER TOWN & COUNTRY MINI VAN FROM ENTERPRISE SAN ANTONIO INT'L AIRPORT LOCATION. WE PICKED UP THE VEHICLE ON 04/05/2011. WE DROVE THE VEHICLE TO LAREDO TEXAS. AFTER 4 DAY DRIVING THE VAN, WE PARKED IT AT THE LOCAL MALL, GOT OUT OF THE VEHICLE, WALKED INTO THE MALL WHEN THE RENTAL VEHICLE ENGINE BURST INTO FLAMES. THERE WAS A LOUD SOUND, WHICH WAS THE FRONT WINDSHIELD EXPLODING, A CLOUD OF SMOKE THEN APPEARED, AND SECONDS LATER THERE WERE HUGE FLAMES COMING OUT OF THE ENGINE. THIS RESULTED IN TOTAL LOSS OF THE VEHICLE ALONG WITH ALL OF OUR PERSONAL BELONGINGS. LUCKILY WE HAD JUST EXITED THE VEHICLE SO WE WERE NOT INJURED OTHER THAN BEING TRAUMATIZED BY THE ENTIRE EVENT. THERE WAS NO SIGNS THAT THERE WAS ABOUT TO BE AN EXPLOSION. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT OVERHEATED, AND THERE WERE NO SMELLS IN OR COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. WE HAD SIMPLY PARKED THE VEHICLE RIGHT BEFORE IT EXPLODED. THE LOCAL POLICE DEPT AND FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED ON THE SCENE VERY QUICKLY TO PUT OUT THE BLAZE. CHRYSLER AND OUR PERSONAL INS COMPANY HAVE COMPLETED AN INSPECTION OF THE VAN BUT CHRYSLER REFUSES TO DISCLOSE THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE TO OUR FAMILY. WE ARE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THIS AND ARE AFRAID THAT ANOTHER FAMILY MAY NOT BE AS LUCKY AS WE WERE TO ESCAPE THIS MALFUNCTION WITHOUT PHYSICAL HARM. I WOULD LIKE THIS ISSUE TO BE INVESTIGATED FURTHER BY SOMEONE. WE AND OTHER FAMILIES DESERVE ANSWERS THE BIG CO WON'T GIVE US. *TR
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — Office of Defects Investigation