# 2008 DODGE NITRO — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
> NHTSA complaint `904248` · 2012-02-08 · Chrysler (FCA US, LLC)
## Severity
- **Deaths:** 0
- **Injured:** 0
- **Fire:** Yes
- **Crash:** No
- **Police report:** No
- **Medical attention:** No
- **Vehicle towed:** No
## Vehicle
- **Make:** DODGE
- **Model:** NITRO
- **Year:** 2008
- **Manufacturer:** Chrysler (FCA US, LLC)
- **Component:** ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
- **Miles at failure:** 38,000
- **Speed:** 70 mph
## Narrative
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL SET TO ABOUT 70-71 MILES PER HOUR WHEN SUDDENLY I HEARD A DING AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON.  THE CLOSEST EXIT WAS LESS THAN A QUARTER OF A MILE AWAY SO I TOOK THAT EXIT.  AS I BEGAN TO EXIT THE INTERSTATE THE TRUCK BEGAN TO ACT REALLY STRANGE.  THE SPEED OF THE TRUCK WAS ACTING UP, SLOWING DOWN/SPEEDING UP UNPREDICTABLY, AND EVEN THE STEERING GOT REALLY HARD TO CONTROL.  AT THIS POINT A FEW MORE WARNING LIGHTS DINGED ON.  AS THIS HAPPENED, I QUICKLY PULLED OFF TO THE SHOULDER OF THE FRONTAGE ROAD, PUT THE TRUCK INTO PARK, AND ENGAGED THE PARKING BRAKE.  THE ENGINE HAD ALREADY SHUT ITSELF OFF.  AT THIS POINT I TURNED OFF THE TRUCK WITH THE KEYS, OPENED THE DOOR AND NOTICED WHITE SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD.  I PULLED THE HOOD RELEASE PREPARED TO INSPECT UNDER THE HOOD AND NOTICED A LOT MORE WHITE SMOKE THAN THE FEW MOMENTS BEFORE.  HAVING WALKED OVER TO THE FRONT OF THE TRUCK, I WONDERED IF IT WAS SAFE TO PUT MY HAND UNDER THE HOOD TO RELEASE THE LOCKING MECHANISM DUE TO THE LARGE AMOUNTS OF WHITE SMOKE.  I DECIDED NOT TO AND PROCEEDED TO WALK AROUND TO THE PASSENGER SIDE WHEN I IMMEDIATELY NOTICED FIRE. UP UNTIL THIS POINT, THE TOTAL TIME ELAPSED FROM THE MOMENT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WAS NO MORE THAN A FEW MINUTES.  BECAUSE I WAS DRIVING UP STATE TO MOVE INTO A DORM FOR MY LAST SEMESTER OF COLLEGE, MOST OF MY POSSESSIONS WERE LOST IN THE FIRE.  *TR
---
*Source: [NHTSA ODI](https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/downloads/) · AI Analytics · CC0 1.0*