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1998 JEEP WRANGLER — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

fire1 injured · 892149 · 2011-11-26

Vehicle

Make
JEEP
Model
WRANGLER
Year
1998
Manufacturer
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC)
Component
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Miles at failure
72,000
Speed
60 mph

Severity

Deaths
0
Injured
1
Fire
Yes
Crash
No
Police report
No
Medical attention
No
Vehicle towed
No

Narrative

PURCHASED MY JEEP NEW IN 1998 AND I ONLY DROVE IT ABOUT 5000 MILES PER YEAR..IN ABOUT 2009 I BEGAN TO HAVE SOME TROUBLE WITH THE GAUGES/SPEEDOMETER..THEY WOULD STOP FUNCTIONING FOR PERIODS OF TIME...IN ABOUT 2010 I THERE WAS AN ODOR COMING FROM THE VENTS WHEN I USED MY HEATER OR AC..EACH TIME I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER WHERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AND THE LAST TIME I HAD IT CHECKED WAS THE END OF SEPTEMBER 2011. ON NOVEMBER 21, 2011 I WAS DRIVING TO THE GROCERY STORE WITH THE HEATER ON AND SMOKE STARTED COMING OUT OF THE VENTS..I TURNED OFF THE HEATER & BLOWER & THEN SAW FIRE COMING OUT FROM UNDER THE DASH ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. I STOPPED & TRIED TO PUT OUT THE FLAMES WITH MY JACKET. A LADY STOPPED TO HELP & CALLED 911. WHILE WAITING FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT (JUST A FEW MINUTES) AND I WAS SITTING IN THE LADY'S CAR...I WATCHED MY JEEP START MOVING TO THE RIGHT (EVEN THOUGH THE IGNITION WAS TURNED OFF & THE JEEP WAS IN GEAR)...IT WENT INTO A GRASS FIELD, BURST INTO FLAMES AND WAS A TOTAL LOSS. I ONLY HAD MINOR BURNS ON MY FINGERS & HANDS (FROM TRYING TO PUT OUT THE FIRE). I AM EXTREMELY UPSET! *TR

Source

Authoritative
NHTSA ODI Flat-File Downloads
ODI Number
10437309
Machine
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