1994 Dodge Pickup

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 DODGE PICKUP. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WAS SMOKING FOLLOWED BY FLAMES. THE ENGINE WAS NOT TURNED ON AT THE TIME. THE CONTACT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE FIRE MELTED THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LINER AND THE FRONT CARPET WAS DESTROYED. IN ADDITION, THE FRONT PASSENGER AND DRIVER SEATS WERE SCORCHED AND THE FRONT WINDSHIELD WAS CRACKED. THERE WERE NO PERSONAL INJURIES OR PROPERTY DAMAGE. ONE WEEK PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, THE CONTACT SMELLED A BURNING ODOR INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE ORIGINATED IN THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH WIRING HARNESS. THE AUTHORIZED DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 160,000.

DT: THE CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH THE HOOD LATCH CAME LOOSE ON THE 1994 DODGE RAM. THE HOOD FLEW UP AND BUSTED THE WINDSHIELD. THE CONSUMER HAS TAKEN THE TRUCK TO THE DODGE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE IT REPAIRED FOR THE HINGE FAILURE. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE TRUCK WAS UNDER NHTSA RECALL 01V04000 CONCERNING THE HOOD LATCH. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE DEALERSHIP WAS TELLING HIM THAT THEY HAD THE WRONG ADDRESS, AND THAT WAS WHY HE WAS NOT INFORMED. THE CONSUMER SPECIFICALLY STATED THAT THE DEALERSHIP WILL NOT FIX HIS TRUCK NOW. THE DEALER REFERRED HIM TO THE DISTRICT MANAGER, AND HE CONCLUDED THAT THEY WERE NOT GOING TO FIX THE DAMAGES THAT THE LATCH FAILURE CAUSED. THEY WERE GOING TO ONLY REPLACE THE LATCH. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED CHRYSLER, AND THEY TOLD HIM TO GO TO DEALERSHIP.*AK