Well, my heart has slowed down enough to tell my story. Yesterday 5/20/12 at around 9:20pm, which is 15mins before I leave for work. I wake up to my Mom, screaming "WHERES THE PHONE! OH MY GOD" I immediately hop out of bed hearing my Dad Yelling "JAKE, YOUR JEEP IS ON FIRE!" I run upstairs and look out the window to witness something, what could only happen in a dream....or so I thought. My 2012 Jeep Wrangler Sport S with under 600 miles on it, is set a blaze. I couldn't believe my eyes. Since I was parked in between My moms 09 Jeep Patriot and my Dads 07 Dodge 2500 Long Horn Edition diesel truck, Not only was my vehicle on fire, but theirs as well. If my clutch hadn't give out from the flames, the fire could of caught our house on fire. Were lucky it burnt something out, which caused my car to roll down the driveway onto our lawn away from any future danger.
We currently have no information in regards to how the fire started. My family and I are all just as shocked and dumbfounded as you might be. We have no answers, only theories. My Jeep mechanically was perfect, everything ran smooth and perfect...once again, so I thought. Could this be an issue with the new Penstar motor, no idea, but it's possible. As a citizen and caring individual, I made this post, to warn you guys, and to alert anyone thinking about or presently owns a 2012 Wrangler. I will be updating this as soon as I know more. The second I find something out, It will be posted on here. Everyone, seriously be careful, I could of vary well have been in my Jeep had I have to leave for work earlier. I'm thankful everyone was alright. God Bless.
Here is a video I just put together. Since everyone was ok and no one got hurt, I felt a little humor was necessary to help take away some of the sorrow.
Sorry for your loss, but it's not just the 2012's that spontanious combust. Its all model years. Full coverage and GAP I suppose? Glad nothing else burnt, I park in the garage, if mine caught on fire, the whole house would burn down.
Why was the last time you drove it before it burned? Do you smoke ciggys?
So I guess you have a nice set of Gecko doors for sale then?
Don't worry....that'll buff right out! :thumb::thumb:
Seriously, THANK GOD nobody was hurt!! It looks as if it was far enough away from everything else when it finally stopped thereby negating any further damage to other property.
I'm anxious to hear what exactly happened as well. Like chim-chim7 asked, when was the last time you ran her? Do you smoke? Or is it just something that "happened?"
Sorry for the loss of your new truck...but if you had good insurance, go shopping today. I also would be curious to hear what JEEP has to say.
If it was 15min before you leave for work and you were still in bed, then I will presume it was stone cold. In this case, my first assumption would have to be arson I am afraid to say.
All other fire possibilities are from: Brake lines cutting through and squirting onto hot manifolds, grass and debris getting caught up between the auto skid plate and the catalytic converter, fuel leaks squirting onto the manifolds etc. The common fact to all these incidents is a hot motor. I am not aware of any spontaneous combustion events on a cold motor not running. Hate to say it, but I don't think the Jeep was at fault.
Very sad to a Jeep bite the dust and hope you both get to the bottom of it and get a nice shiny new one in its place!
If it was 15min before you leave for work and you were still in bed, then I will presume it was stone cold. In this case, my first assumption would have to be arson I am afraid to say.
All other fire possibilities are from: Brake lines cutting through and squirting onto hot manifolds, grass and debris getting caught up between the auto skid plate and the catalytic converter, fuel leaks squirting onto the manifolds etc. The common fact to all these incidents is a hot motor. I am not aware of any spontaneous combustion events on a cold motor not running. Hate to say it, but I don't think the Jeep was at fault.
Very sad to a Jeep bite the dust and hope you both get to the bottom of it and get a nice shiny new one in its place!
Very sorry to hear that. Like an accident though a few months from now it won't matter when all vehicles are repaired/replace. It's a loss but in the end it's just metal and rubber etc.. I have thought a lot and given it sat all night I cannot imagine the scenario where the vehicle could have triggered the fire in that specific circumstance. Usually vehicles heat up for an hour after being shut down then the temp slowly lowers.
Make sure to report the incident to NHTSA at this link https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/ivoq/
They will compile it with other, similar reports and start an investigation if a recall is necessary.
Recent investigation by NHTSA has forced Chrysler to issue a fire-related recall on 2010 Wranglers. For months Chrysler was denying the problem, until finally they were forced to admit that a recall is necessary.
If there still is an underlying problem with newer Wranglers, NHTSA needs to know about your case in order to push Chrysler to do something about it.
Make sure to report the incident to NHTSA at this link https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/ivoq/
They will compile it with other, similar reports and start an investigation if a recall is necessary.
Recent investigation by NHTSA has forced Chrysler to issue a fire-related recall on 2010 Wranglers. For months Chrysler was denying the problem, until finally they were forced to admit that a recall is necessary.
If there still is an underlying problem with newer Wranglers, NHTSA needs to know about your case in order to push Chrysler to do something about it.
Does the NHTSA investigate arson these days? Your BS doesn't work on this forum. In one of your other BS posts you tried to say that only the government can "force" Chrysler to perform a recall. You continually confuse US automakers with your employer, Toyota. Chrysler's recall was not "forced" by the government. Didn't Honda recently have a major recall?
1. Glad no one was hurt
2. Sorry for your loss, but things can be replaced.
3. I live in a Condo, so a garage fire would affect the other 3-units in our building
4. Just went out to the garage and moved my 2012 outside :banghead:
Thanks for the notification! Keep us informed as info becomes available
1. Glad no one was hurt
2. Sorry for your loss, but things can be replaced.
3. I live in a Condo, so a garage fire would affect the other 3-units in our building
4. Just went out to the garage and moved my 2012 outside :banghead:
Thanks for the notification! Keep us informed as info becomes available
That is awful! I'm really sorry that happened but like others have already said I'm glad no one was hurt!
Will be very anxious to hear what the cause was. We have two of them parked in my garage and the thought of a fire starting in the middle of the night terrifies me.
I'm sure some of you recall the issue Ford had with the cruise control switch. The switch was always powered (or hot?) even with the motor off and fires would start while they were parked. Not saying that is the case here but its not unheard of for a malfunction to start a parked blaze. Unnerving stuff!
One way to decrease your fire chances is to make sure your skids are cleared out after wheeling. Also prevents rust.
For some of us newbies where exactly is the Catalytic Converter? I don't have a good picture but is this it on the 2012? Lower right circled in red? If so I don't have a skid under it for debris to get caught in.
It can happen, but it has to be a perfect storm. A very hot fire that melts and releases the clutch/gears, if it's in gear, and the e-brake cables if it was applied when parked. You not only have the surrounding materials burning but the fluids that also drastically increase the temp. of the fire. If it was on an incline, there are incidents that vehicles have rolled under those conditions. The question is how did such a hot fire start with an otherwise cold situation.
It's most likely one of two things. An electrical issue due to modifications or manufacturer defect, or arson. Hopefully you have called the authorities and had a report filled out.
It's most likely one of two things. An electrical issue due to modifications or manufacturer defect, or arson. Hopefully you have called the authorities and had a report filled out.
Agreed. And glad you and your family weren't hurt. :thumb:
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