Oct 11, 2022Electrical systemFire
In the morning (6AM) of September 19, my car car caught on fire while parked in my driveway. There were flames 3-4 feet height coming from the engine hood area. Once the fire was extinguished by the local fire department, I found the car was extensively damaged in the front outside and inside driver cabin. Upon further inspection I found the fire might have started with or around the battery, as it was completely melted. Further inspection on the back side of the car showed some stripped wiring in the assembly connecting to the rear hatch mechanism, lights, and other. In the days previous to this incident the battery had loss its charge completely twice in the span of a week and a half.
NHTSA ODI 11488743
Jan 17, 2017Electrical systemAirbagsSpeed controlCrash1 injury
TAKATA RECALL - CHRYSLER OWNS FIAT AND I HAD A PROBLEM WITH MY AIR BAGS ON A 2012 FIAT. I WAS IN A SMALL FENDER BENDER. ALL AIR BAGS OPENED BUT ALL THE FRONT AIR BAGS RUPTURED. NO ONE ELSE WAS IN THE CAR WITH ME BUT THE SENSOR IN THE PASSENGER SEAT DID NOT KICK IN. ALL AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. I HAD INJURIES WHICH WERE A FRACTURED ELBOW, DISLOCATED MY ARM IN TWO PLACES. SINCE THEN I AM HAVING TROUBLE WITH MY SHOULDER, NECK, HEADACHES, AND MY BACK. I AM GOING TO THE DOCTORS AND PHYSICAL THERAPY. PLEASE GET BACK TO ME AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AS I AM GOING TO HIRE AN ATTORNEY TO SEE WHAT CAN BE DONE. MY INSURANCE COMPANY CONSIDER IT A TOTAL LOSS. *TR
NHTSA ODI 10945714
Jul 25, 2016Electrical systemFire
STOPPED AT BANK TO WITHDRAW SOME CASH AND THE ALTERNATOR STARTED ON FIRE! HAD THE CAR TOWED TO MECHANIC TO REPAIR .
NHTSA ODI 10888319
May 12, 2015SteeringElectrical systemAirbagsCrash
WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AND THE CAR LOST POWER. ALL LIGHTS ON INDICATOR DASH WENT OFF. NO STEERING ABILITY AND LITTLE/NO CONTROL OF VEHICLE. FAILURE RESULTED IN A CRASH. NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS SIDE IMPACT TO BOTH SIDES AND FRONT END IMPACT. THE CAR WAS TOTALED.
NHTSA ODI 10715879
Aug 29, 2014Electrical systemElectronic Stability Control (esc)EngineCrash
THIS OCCURRED ABOUT 6 TIMES ALREADY. WHEN MAKING A LEFT OR RIGHT TURN THE VEHICLE SHUTS OFF AND COASTS UNTIL YOU STOP TO SHUT IT OFF AND TURN BACK ON. THE BATTERY AND OIL PRESSURE LIGHTS COME ON DURING THE COASTING. CAME VERY CLOSE TO BEING HIT TWICE DUE TO THIS PROBLEM, BUT THE DEALER SAY THEY HAVEN'T HEARD ANYTHING LIKE THIS BEFORE. *TR
NHTSA ODI 10629299
Jun 11, 2013Electrical systemFire
I OWN A 2012 FIAT POP THAT I PURCHASED NEW ABOUT A YEAR AGO. ONE THING THAT DID NOT GO AWAY AND WAS EVER PRESENT AT ANY TIME WAS THE LIMP MODE FOR THE ENGINE OVER THE LAST FEW DAYS. RECYCLING DID NOT WORK TO CORRECT PROBLEM AND GAUGES WERE OUT. THE INDICATOR LIGHT ON PANEL SHOWED IN LIMP MODE WHEN IT WORKED. GAUGES KEPT GOING ON AND OFF SOMETIMES FOR SHORT PERIODS AND OTHER TIMES FOR LONGER PERIODS. ON 6/10/13 MY VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE IN THE DASHBOARD. I WAS TRAVELING BACK FROM THE STORE IN LIMP MODE HOPING IT WOULD GO OUT BUT NEVER DID.I PARKED THE CAR IN FRONT OF MY DEVELOPMENT POOL AND WENT TO VISIT MY EMPLOYEE THERE. WITHIN ABOUT 5 MINUTES OR SO SHE SAID THAT MY LIGHTS WERE FLASHING. I CHECKED AND WENT TO THE VEHICLE. IT WAS ENGULFED WITH SMOKE AND A NASTY ELECTRICAL SMELL. FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME. I WAS TOLD THAT I HAD TO WAIT FOR THE FIRE INSPECTOR TO COME AND EXAMINE MY VEHICLE. HE CAME. BEGAN TEARING MY DASHBOARD APART TO FIND THE CAUSE OR SOURCE OF THE FIRE. IT WAS DETERMINED BY HIS KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE THAT THE BODY CONTROL UNIT HAD FAILED AND CAUSED THE FIRE. VEHICLE IS TOTALED. THE VEHICLE HAS ONLY ABOUT 4000 MILES ON IT. EARLIER THAT DAY BEFORE THE INCIDENT I HAD CALLED THE LOCAL FIAT DEALER. EXPLAINED THE PROBLEM OF THE GAUGES NOT WORKING, AND LIMP MODE, I ASKED IF IT WAS SAFE TO DRIVE AND HE SAID YES. AT THIS POINT I MADE AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THE VEHICLE LOOKED AT HOPEFULLY THAT DAY. ONLY OPENING WAS NEXT DAY AT 2PM. I HAVE FILED AN INSURANCE CLAIM AND THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TOWED AWAY. *TR
NHTSA ODI 10516179