On 11-11-2020, my 2014 Dodge Dart SXT caught fire while driving on a state route. It started off as a burning smell that I believed to be from someone having bonfires or whatnot from their house under the bridge I was passing over.

The smell got so bad I decided to turn my heater off for a minute and immediately upon doing so, green smoke filled the cabin - nearly blinding me - as I tried to look ahead in hopes the red light would turn green. I had about seven cars ahead of me and I honked at them furiously as I watched smoke bubble up from the left top corner of the passenger-side hood near the windshield and I started to realize my car was on fire. I didn't have an extinguisher for this fire, but I pulled into the back of a parking lot away from cars and turned the vehicle off.

When I turned it off, it sounded like the cooling fan and engine were both revving AFTER I turned it off. I jumped out of the car, popped the hood and more smoke started flooding from the hood. I thought maybe I blew something on the road, but as I ran out to the front of the car to lift the hood I could see the flames snaking out from under it and didn't touch it. I immediately called 911.

The oil and lube shop employees and the department store employees came running out to help put out the fire, while I stayed back on the phone with 911. Before anyone could get closer, I heard my car make a fizzle noise before a large boom exploded from under the hood and flames shot up into the sky, setting my engine bay a full-blaze.

The fire department cut my hood in half while I sobbingly watched my transportation of two-years go up in flames. I then spent the next 3 hours cleaning it up, calling my insurance to file a claim and finding a tow truck.

I'm still resolving this issue. I called the FCA and filed a complaint there. NHTSA has my other complaint that I filed on this very incident and my car was considered a 'total loss' by insurance leaving me without a car. I'm still working through the GAP insurance and the comprehensive insurance coverage. I don't know the entire outcome yet as I'm still dealing with them.

To the Managent of Chrysler Corporation I am writing to bring to your attention a serious issue I had in one of your manufactured vehicles. On June 10th of 2016 while on my way to work I started to smell smoke. It quickly became apparent that your vehicle had caught on fire. My dash computer was reading out “air bag failure”. Within minutes this vehicle was consumed. It was still under manufacturer warrantee as it was well under the mileage needed to qualify. When I purchased this vehicle I was offered comprehensive and gap insurance which I purchased right from the dealership. It was only after this event that I was informed that what your dealership calls comprehensive insurance is in fact nothing at all like comprehensive insurance that would cover the car in the event of a total loss. My insurance company is not covering this vehicle because it was not covered under their comprehensive insurance. I felt I did not need to pay comprehensive insurance redundantly. This car was towed at my expense in excess of $1900 after storage awaiting your inspector to come to do his inspection. This in itself is unacceptable. Your inspector, Vernon Smith was very kind to me over the phone and told me he would be out to inspect the car and to leave it where it was until the time after he came to inspect the car. The inspection was completed and I waited for a call from your Headquarters. After a week passed I started calling daily. Then twice a day and then three times. All the while being told by your corporate headquarters that it is unfortunate but they have no Idea who to forward my calls to and I would just have to wait this out for the results of the inspection. I was sure that the inspection would show manufacturer defect as I had not altered the vehicle in any way. I followed all maintenance to the exact letter. There came a point that I could no longer store the car where it was and moved it to your dealership in Budd Lake NJ. The very moment that it arrived at this dealership the service manager called your Corporate Headquarters and found out that my claim was denied. Now how could he do this in one call when I could not in 50 calls? Was the denial put in place once the car was in the custody of your corporation and therefore not able to be re inspected by my own private investigator? What possible reason could your Mr. Kahn have for not returning my calls in regards to informing me of the cause of the fire? It is frustrating and seriously bad business practices to say the least. While I was not physically injured in this event I can honestly tell you that there have been some serious psychological damages. I am uneasy when driving in a car that may catch fire without warning. The slightest smell of smoke or electrical vapors puts me in a panic. That being said, I am hoping you will come to your senses and honor my years of Dodge loyalty by replacing my vehicle with one of similar value. I am ready and willing to take this case to various consumer advocates and to seek damages through legal means. This is no way to treat your loyal customers. My first Dodge was a 1976 Dart. My last Dodge does not have to be the 2014 Dodge Dart that burned up on the highway as I watched in dismay.

Awaiting your compliance, John Neely.