NHTSA complaint: 2007 DODGE CALIBER — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
I WAS APPROACHING AN INTERSECTION TO MAKE U-TURN, WHEN MY CAR WENT INTO A STALL. THE ENGINE SOUNDED TO ME, AS IF IT WAS STILL REVVING. BUT MY FOOT WASN'T ON THE PEDAL. I CAME TO A HALT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. PUT MY CAR IN PARK, TRIED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE TWICE. THEN MY CAR CAUGHT FIRE. IN SHOCK I COULD FEEL THE CAR GETTING HOT. SO I UNBUCKLED MY SEAT BELT, AND TRIED TO OPEN THE DOOR. IT WOULDN'T OPEN. I PANICKED FOR MY LIFE AND PROCEEDED TO TRY AND GET OUT THE CAR FROM THE TRUNK. IT WOULDN'T OPEN EITHER. BUT A WITTINESS WHO SAW MY HORRIBLE FATE HELPED ME AND OPEN THE DOOR FROM THE OUTSIDE. I WAS SAVED, AND RELIEVED. HE THEN RAN TO HIS CAR AND GOT A GALLON OF WATER AND TRIED TO PUT OUT THE FIRE. BUT THE FLAMES WERE TO STRONG FOR A GUSH OF WATER. AN OTHER WITTINESS TRIED TO HELP PUT OUT THE FLAMES WITH SOME MORE WATER. STILL THE FLAMES WOULD NOT DIE DOWN. SO I DECIDED TO CALL "911" AND TELL THEM MY REASON OF CALLING. THEN THE FIRE AND POLICE DEPARTMENTS CAME. THEY PUT OUT THE FIRE. I WAS RELIEVED BUT AFRAID FOR MY. NEW JOB THAT I HAD TO REPORT AN ABSENCE TOO, AND LOST WAGES FOR MY FAMILY CARE AND WELL BEING. AND MY OWN LIFE THREATENING ORDEAL, MAY HAVE TO EVALUATED FOR POST TRAUMATIC STRESS. I THEN CALLED MY FAMILY MEMBER TO PICK ME UP, AND TO ARRANGE A TOW SERVICE. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO MY RESIDENCE. AND IS NOW UNDERGOING AN INVESTIGATIVE DAMAGES AND INSURANCE CLAIMS. *TR
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — Office of Defects Investigation