2004 Jeep Wrangler: fire, smoke or burning smell

Filed Sep 23, 2020 · Electrical · 135,000 miles · KS · fire

Driving while dark, had smoke smell from inside cab. Driving in daylight later, and saw smoke coming from behind steering colomn. Smoke got much worse, endangered driving, and column started to get hot. Pulled over, and noticed the fog lights were still on despite the switch, and key being off. Pulled the fuse, and relay, then problem stopped. I removed the turn signal switch assembly, which also houses the head lights and fog light switches, and found the connector overheated, and shorted internally. While waiting for a replacement switch, the turn signals and flashers quit working. I tried a new flasher relay, but can only assume the connector is the main fault, as it was partially melted and now brittle from the fire. After trouble shooting and multiple times installing and removing the connector, it has begun to crack and fall apart, further disabling other switches. I'm currently replacing the connector once I am able to locate one. My main concern is this could have caused a major distraction and possible crash while driving, and even more so, that a fire could occur while the vehicle is parked, like in my garage while I sleep! Every thing on the jeep is stock, and the fog lights are a oem option installed by the dealer when I bought it new, from the factory. I've done no maintenance except to replace the turn signal switch when the fog light switch failed 40k miles ago. The connector was fine then, and it was only a switch failure at that time. The jeep has 135k miles on it currently. The current turn signal switch was not at fault since I now know the connector was what was burning. I've read of several incidences on jeep forums where something similar has happened, with either the connector, or the turn signal switch. I feel this is a multiple safety hazard, not only while driving, but also when parked.

Filed Jun 12, 2014 · Driver assistance, Electrical · 140,000 miles · SC · fire · 1 injury

The vehicle had been driven for about 35 minutes at approximately 70mph on the interstate. The vehicle unexpectedly began to produce a thick white smoke. The vehicle was immediately pulled over and placed into park; the vehicle was already on fire upon exiting. The grass beneath had caught on fire as well. The hood began to blacken indicating a fire in the engine compartment close to the firewall. The entire incident took place in about thirty seconds; from the time it began to smoke to the time it was on fire begin the entire incident. A truck driver with a dry chemical fire extinguisher put the engine fire out; after lifting the hood to a ball of fire. The only injury begin light burns from lifting the hood. Essentially, my jeep wrangler, with no aftermarket parts installed, burst into flames for no apparent reason.

Filed Apr 3, 2014 · Electrical · 72,000 miles · IN · fire

I drove my jeep from home to work about twenty miles without any problems no warning lights or any visible problems. I shut it off went into work only to learn it had caught on fire about thirty minutes after being shut off ! The heater motor and glove box area is where the fire started. Fire department called it electrical? Contracted jeep (chrysler) about any recall or tsb but was told there wasn't any! This seems to be a major problem common in a wide year range of wranglers.

Filed Nov 18, 2008 · Fuel system · 15,260 miles · TX · fire

2004 jeep wrangler was parked & caught fire.

Filed Nov 9, 2004 · Fuel system · AR · crash · fire · 1 injury

The vehicle caught on fire. *nm the consumer was hit on the passenger side door causing the other drivers bumper to wedge into the consumers gas tank. The back door of the consumers jeep was torn off along with the spare tire. The consumers jeep did not stop until it flipped over. The consumer stated that the sturdy jeep saved her life. The consumer purchased the same vehicle and the gas tank blew up. The consumer son barely escaped due to the flamable seats. The jeep burned to the ground.