ON 8.20.18 MY VEHICLE GOING 70MPH ON THE FREEWAY AND THEN MADE A LARGE SOUND. I THEN LOST ALL STEERING AND BRAKING ON THE HIGHWAY. I BARELY WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF WITHOUT GETTING HIT. AFTER SITTING, SMOKE STARTED COMING OUT OF FROM UNDER MY HOOD. AFTER POPPING THE HOOD, THERE WERE FLAMES DOWN IN THE ENGINE. I POURED THE LITTLE AMOUNT OF DRINKING WATER ON THE FLAMES TO DOUSE THEM. THE TOW TRUCK CAME AND TOOK US TO THE NEAREST DODGE DEALER (CROWN DODGE IN REDDING, CALIFORNIA). THEY IMMEDIATELY NOTED IT WAS LIKELY DUE TO RECALL T51, WHERE THE WATER PUMP OVERHEATS, BREAKS THE BELTS, OVERHEATS THE CAR AND COULD CAUSE AN ENGINE FIRE. THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED. I TRIED TO GET THIS FIXED WITH MY LOCAL DEALER MONTHS AGO, BUT THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE PARTS. I ALSO NEVER RECIEVED ANY CORRESPONDENCE LETTERS ON THE RECALL... I OPENED A TICKET WITH DODGE DIRECTLY, THEY ARE INVESTIGATING. THIS WAS VERY DANGEROUS AS I COULD BARELY CONTROL MY CAR AT THAT SPEED, LOSING STEERING AND BRAKING.. SCARY, AND THEN A FIRE!. UGH...
NHTSA ODI 11121526