NHTSA opens probe into fatal fire in 2009 Dodge Journey

A possible electrical problem in a 2009 Dodge Journey may have caused the death of a woman trapped in her burning car. According to NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation report, there are about 82,500 similar vehicles.

NHTSA on May 1 said it opened a preliminary evaluation in response to the December 2022 incident. The ODI learned of the incident in January 2023.

According to the NHTSA report, the driver pulled over and called for help when all warning lights began flashing, wipers came on, horn started honking, windows would not go down and doors would not unlock. The vehicle caught fire, with the fire appearing to begin in the engine compartment and eventually consuming the vehicle.

"We extend our deepest sympathies to the friends and families of this customer and will cooperate fully with the NHTSA," a North American spokesman for Stellantis told Automotive News.

The vehicle was equipped with both automatic and manual locks, according to the owner's manual. The 2009 Dodge Journey has been the subject of eight recalls, three investigations and more than 1,500 complaints, including 10 complaints for issues with latches and locks. Several complaints mention electrical problems affecting doors or windows, including one in which the complainant was unable to use the manual lock and unlock function and could only open the doors with their key.

The NHTSA report does not identify the driver, but Newsweek reported in January that a 73-year-old woman died in December 2022 after becoming trapped in her burning 2009 Dodge Journey in Dunn, Wis.