2000 Dodge Durango: fire, smoke or burning smell

Filed Feb 17, 2016 · Electrical · 160,000 miles · MN

I bought a 2000 dodge durango back in july of 2014 from a local dealership. In october of 2015 the vehicle was in motion on a city street, going about 30 miles per hour. A cloud of black smoke came out of my heater vents, it smelt of burnt plastic and sulfur. Almost immediately after that happened all my dash lights came on and started dinging at me, and the battery voltage meter went from over 18 to under 14. I was able to pull into a local business, and parked the vehicle, I shut the vehicle off and popped the hood. Under the hood it smelt even stronger of burnt plastic. I checked the oil, thinking that maybe I had an oil leak and lost all the oil I had just put into a week before, but the oil was fine. The transmission fluid was fine. All fluids were fine. The vehicle has not started since and I have been told that I need to get all new electrical wires, costing me about $5,000, I have not yet paid to have the work done because I have read about several people having the same issue, I believe that it is an issue that the manufacturer should have to cover. My truck had to be towed home and has not started since. I paid a little over $5,000 for the durango, and I'm not yet done paying it off, and until this is looked into further I am not going to put the same amount of money into it as it will cost me to just go get a new one of the same year.

Filed Jan 11, 2016 · Electrical · 214,000 miles · MI · fire

I was in line at a drive thru restuarant when I smelled smoke got out of the vehicle and saw flames pouring from under the front of the car, I yelled for the people in front of me to move and moved the car to a safer place in the parking lot. Since I had left all belongings including my phone assistance was requested from spectators to call the fire department who came and put the fire out, by then there wasn not much lect under the hood as it had all burned.

Filed May 16, 2011 · Engine · 133,000 miles · VA · fire

I had a 2000 dodge durango and after driving for about 15 minutes I turned on the air and a sulfur like smell came through the air system. After pulling over and cutting the car off, flames came from under the hood. The car burst into flames and burned completely up. Nothing was left but the metal frame. My insurance company couldn't give me any insight as to why this happened. I had about 133,000 miles on it. I wish I knew about this site before I lost my vehicle. I would've insisted that the dealership thoroughly check the car out before I ended up without a vehicle for 2 months.

Filed May 14, 2009 · Brakes, Engine · 124,000 miles · TN · fire

Tl*the contact owns a 2000 dodge durango. While driving 25 MPH, the vehicle began driving roughly and smoke appeared under the hood. The brakes stiffened when the brake pedal was depressed. The contact eased off the brakes, but they failed completely. More smoke appeared under the hood. The contact attempted to pull the vehicle over, but lost control. She heard two snapping noises under the hood. She applied the emergency brake, which stopped the vehicle. The passenger opened the hood and noticed flames in the engine. They called the fire department and a report was filed. The engine fire spread to the passenger compartment of the vehicle. A few minutes later, the vehicle was engulfed in flames. There were no injuries. Prior to the fire, repairs had been made to the engine because it would stall and overheat. The contact brought the vehicle in for service the day after the vehicle was purchased in november of 2008. The current and failure mileages were 124,000.

Filed May 28, 2004 · Airbags · 68,600 miles · WI · crash · fire · 2 injuries

I stopped at a stop sign and waited for the other vehicle to go by. As they passed me, I made a right turn and headed south in the same direction. Within 30 ft after I took off from the stop sign, I glanced to the left and when I looked forward the vehicle in front me had stopped. I turned my wheels to the right and struck the other vehicle. My driver front corner struck his rear right corner. I was only going 20 MPH because of the school and all the children were present on both sides of the street. My vehicle's front driver side was pushed in and then it started on fire. Within a matter of minutes the vehicle was engulfed in flames. By the time the fire department came the vehicle was a total loss. I called daimlerchrysler and explained what has happened. I was told that they will investigate and let me know what they have found. Chrysler went into great detail why the air bags did not deploy, but as far as fire goes I was told " it appears the impact caused a short, which started the fire". No other explanation was given at all. From the stop sign to where accident happened was about 220 ft. I don't think that a $34,000 vehicle should be lost at 20mph impact. I was given chrysler file #[xxx]. Vehicle: 2000 dodge durango, VIN [xxx] st. Francis, wi police department & st. Francis fire department came out to the accident site. *la updated 07/30/2012 *js information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6)

Filed Oct 27, 2003 · Electrical · 40,000 miles · PA · fire

My 2000 dodge durango with approximately 30,000 miles on it mysteriously and unexpectedly burst into flames in the front end. Within sixty seconds, the entire vehicle was engulfed and became a total loss. Three various fire investigators were unable to determine the resultant cause of the blaze.

Filed Aug 26, 2003 · Electrical, Engine · 65,000 miles · NJ · fire

While driving at an undetermined speed engine light came on and smoke started coming from underneath the vehicle. This resulted in vehicle bursting into flames. Prior to this occurrence dealership replaced transmission sensor 3 times. Cause of the fire was undetermined.

Filed Jan 17, 2002 · Engine · CA · fire

While insured was traveling, he smelled gas. Insured exited vehicle and looked under the hood, vehicle was on fire, claim 75-a422-019.

Filed Jan 17, 2002 · Engine · NJ · fire

Insured rented vehicle which caught on fire. Daimler states the oil level caused the oil to leak onto the exhust cross-over pipe, claim 30-f307-271.

Filed Jan 17, 2002 · Engine · CA · fire

While traveling the consumer smelled gas, passenger and driver got out and looked under the hood and discovered vehicle was on fire. Claim# 75-a422-019.

Filed Jan 17, 2002 · Electrical, Engine · NJ · fire

The vehicle caught on fire due to an oil leak onto the exhaust cross-over pipe, however the first set of experts suggest an electrical fire, and now a second set of experts are examining the vehicle. Claim# 30-f037-271.

Filed Dec 3, 2001 · Electrical · AZ · fire

I was driving down the road and without any warning the vehicle caught fire under the hood. I lost steering and brakes. Was able to run vehicle into curb and just got out before things started blowing up. The vehicle was completly distroyed. I reported the incident to my insurance and a few days later I was contacted by a invistagator from daimler chrysler who stated that they wanted to replace my vehicle because the fire was there fault. This statement lead me to beleave daimler chrysler knows about a problem and want to keep it very quite. I was told if I talk to any one the deal would be off. As of now I still do not have my replacement vehicle. Daimler chrysler is insisting I take a vehicle of lesser value that my durango. Any information reguarding this would be greatly appriciated. I feel like I am at the mercy of a very powerful corporation.