2001 Dodge Durango: fire, smoke or burning smell

Filed Jul 14, 2011 · Electrical · TX

A/c control panel burned out...smoke came through dash directly behind AC control unit. Smell of burning wires..I pulled to the side of road and turned off vehicle.. Pulled panel away from A/C control and unplugged the AC control unit..took to dealer had to replace AC control panel and fuse was blown in fuse box.

Filed Feb 2, 2009 · Electrical · IN · fire

My 2001 durango caught fire while in park. It happened just after having a little trouble with the lights behind dashboard / fuse blown . The place repairing my truck said that I have a short in the electrical cluster that controls lighting behind dash. I have seen other similar complaints one at carcomplaints.com.

Filed Jan 8, 2009 · Visibility · 133,000 miles · MI · fire

Tl*the contact owns a 2001 dodge durango. The wiring harness that connects to the blower motor resister burned and no longer works. While driving at an unknown speed, the vehicle filled up with smoke and the contact smelled something burning. The wiring harness was replaced twice within two years. The dealer stated that the parts for the heater were unavailable and would possibly remain this way until january 16, 2009. The failure mileage was 133,000.

Filed Sep 16, 2008 · Electrical · 110,000 miles · WI · fire

Tl*the contact owns a 2001 dodge durango. While parked in the driveway with the engine shut off, the vehicle began to smoke. The contact extinguished the fire and had the vehicle towed to a dealer. She discovered that the vehicle was included in the federal safety agency campaign id number 06v339000 (electrical system). The dealer installed a cap to prevent additional fluid from contaminating the connector, which caused the fire. Almost one year later, the failure recurred. The contact also experienced failures with the head gaskets. While the vehicle was at a repair shop, the mechanic checked the fluids with the engine running. The mechanic opened the driver's door and observed a large amount of smoke and flames inside the passenger compartment. After the fire was extinguished, it was discovered that the cause of the failure was the same plug that set the driver's seat on fire a year earlier. The contact stated that the repair should be included in the recall because she believes it was not properly repaired the first time. The failure mileage was 110,000 and current mileage was 150,000.

Filed Feb 28, 2008 · Electrical · 74,750 miles · NY · fire

Tl*the contact owns a 2001 dodge durango. The contact noticed smoke rising from under the dashboard before it caught fire. The fire department extinguished the fire. The vehicle was inspected by a chrysler investigator, but they would not disclose the cause of the fire. The interior of the vehicle sustained damage. There were no injuries. The current and failure mileages were 74,750.

Filed Aug 28, 2006 · Electrical · 71,000 miles · MI · fire

Dt*: the contact stated the vehicle caught fire while parked in the driveway. The fire department was called and determined the fire originated from under the driver's seat and was of an electrical nature. There were no problems with the vehicle prior to the incident. The dealership was not notified but the contact planned to. The vehicle was totaled and a police report was taken.

Filed Oct 21, 2005 · Electrical, Steering · MI · fire

I have been with this vehicle in the shop every time you turn around. Currently we were driving down the road and smoke came from the vents. It was a fire which they are still trying to find where the short is. Also the convertor for the air conditioner is bad and had to be replaced. Because of the short the battery was replaced two times because of the burning it up, the spring broke when I hit a bump and my daughters neck was wrenched. Every other day the vehicle won't start, the locks won't work after having them redone by clio chrysler, the windows won't go up and down, the car has a bad steering rack which we reported to you quite some time ago (2 different dealerships evaluated and reported this), the ball joints were bad, the car creaks currently underneath as though it is going to fall in to pieces. The alternator had to be replaced, the sensors all were going bad at different times, so every other day the car won't run. The one cost us a mint in gasoline because the car would just drink the gas and shoot out black smoke. This is a 2000 vehicle from problems dating from day one of purchase. The vehicle.

Filed Sep 22, 2005 · Electrical · 80,000 miles · SC · fire

Dt: on september 21, 2001 underneath the console in the front seat row the wiring harness caught on fire. It was an electrical fire. One could see the smoke coming from the plastic piece. There was no forewarning. The vehicle was off, and there were no keys in the ignition. The vehicle was sitting for thirty minutes. Contacted the dealer, they said insurance company should be notified.

Filed Sep 14, 2005 · Transmission · 59,736 miles · IN

On the evening of august 28, 2005 while driving down the indiana toll road near michigan city, in., my 2001 dodge durango suddenly started to loose power, shortly after that we smelled something burning. It was at that point we discovered the rear differential had been smoking and as we were slowing down we could hear clunking coming from the rear-end. That night the durango was towed to michigan city, and the next day it was towed to my local dodge dealership lochmandy motors in elkhart, in for repair. After several days and inspection from an independent inspector from hired by insurance company, it was determined that the carrier bearing in the rear-end failed and caused the rear axle to be damaged beyond repair. The entire rear axle had to be replaced for a total cost of $1795.60. My 2001 dodge durango only has 59736 miles on it, but none the repairs were covered by the warranty not to mention the towing costs. Both the dealership and the independent inspector agreed that the carrier bearing breaking was a manufactures defect. I feel all costs for the repair and towing of my dodge durango should be paid for by daimler chrysler.

Filed Aug 20, 2004 · Steering · 77,000 miles · WI · fire

On april 26, 2004 I arrived at a business meeting and parked my 2001 r/t durango, and set my alarm with the keyless entry. From my client's office I noticed whitish/gray smoke and observed that the smoke was billowing from under the hood of my truck! I rushed outside.upon arriving in the parking lot I was stopped by the police and fire department from approaching my durango as they were afraid it might explode.the flames were already four feet above the hood.the fire took my engine, bumpers, lights, hood, fender, left front tire & severally damaged the car directly in front of mine & slightly damaged the car to the left corner. State farm's investigation determined that the failure was caused by the ignition of power steering fluid onto hot surfaces of the exhaust system with the fire extending upward and outward, causing the damage present" which was the total loss of my vehicle. I filed a special investigation report with chrysler and they sent me back a letter stating that my claim was denied. In other words nothing was done by chrysler to correct the failure although state farm is in subrogation as they found several technical service bulletins # 19-005-03 and 19-009-00 that they feel pertained to this event.the third party fire investigator informed me that this happened before, and that the person that chrysler sent to inspect vehicle was not a licensed fire inspector, and that mr. Pitt (chrysler's rep.) was not qualified to determine the cause of the fire.I wrote a letter to the president of chrysler and the director of customer service. A month later received a call from them stating again that my claim was denied, and that they would not tell me what they determined caused the fire on recommendation from their legal staff.I replied it sounded like they were trying to hide something, and he told me that he would refer my claim back to the special investigation unit, and I am still waiting for a returned call. The last contact was 7/15/2004.

Filed Apr 7, 2004 · Electrical · 47,045 miles · NM · fire

A fire started under the center seat on passenger's side of the vehicle while driving at 25 MPH. There were flames and heavy smoke. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. The cause of fire was unknown.

Filed Mar 26, 2004 · Suspension · MA

151 old farm rd. Leominster, ma 01453 march 26, 2004 daimler-chrysler corporation po box 610207 port huron, mi 48061-0207 dear sirs: my father always told me, never buy a chrysler product. however, a couple of years ago when looking for a mid-size SUV with a third row I was tempted by the dodge durango. However, I kept hearing my fathers voice, never buy&.. but I thought, that was the 1950s. You dont see blue smoke pouring from the exhaust pipe of chrysler products anymore. Surely in the 21st century chrysler products can compete with anything on the market. Right? so I relented and bought my first chrysler producta well-styled dodge durango. I would prove my father wrong. Well-----? After only 60,000 miles and a $2,000 repair bill I am now telling my sons, never buy a chrysler product. what happened? At 60,000 miles I took my durango into my dealer for routine service and a state inspection. Please try to imagine my shock when I got a phone call from the service manager informing me that the ball joints on my car were so dangerously worn, the car would not pass inspection. If I did not get it repaired they would have to red-flag the car because it was too dangerous to have on the highway. Now really, who would want to drive a car that unsafe? I was relieved that the mechanic discovered it and possibly prevented a horrible accident. I had it fixed. Totally worn out ball joints at only 60,000 miles? And that is when I heard my fathers voice again, never buy a chrysler product. sincerely, ian bothwell cc: the federal safety agency.