2019 Jeep Cherokee Latitude caught FIRE!

Asked by Terri Dec 13, 2018 at 02:46 PM about the 2019 Jeep Cherokee Latitude Plus 4WD

Question type: Maintenance & Repair

2019 Jeep Cherokee Latitude Plus just burned to a crisp, 40 days into the
lease. Parked the car and notice flames! Fire Department had to put out the
fire! See picture attached.  Dealership was no help! Wouldn't give me a loaner
or any advice at all about how to proceed. Filed a complaint on NHTSA

15 Answers

10

Did you ever experience strong smell of gas inside the car before this happened?

1 people found this helpful.
500

I would contact Jeep (Not your Dealer) tell them what happened and let them know that you have gotten no assistance from the Dealer. I would not give up squeaky wheel my friend..I have never leased but I would be in contact with the leasing company as well. When this gets sorted out DO NOT GET ANOTHER JEEP. Like Ever.

4 people found this helpful.
20

They have a long history of doing this look on internet and Chrysler Jeep they Know !!!!!!!!

2 people found this helpful.
170

All please retweet this post so Chrysler can realize how horrible car radio they produced https://twitter.com/nuthetiram/status/11041702776 41113600?s=12

10

What ended up happening? Dis Chrysler do anything for you? Mine did the same thing in April!

1 people found this helpful.
90

To whom it may concern:               I would like to acknowledge your “acknowledgement” and provide you with some additional information and feedback.   On Tuesday, December 10, 2019, I left for work like normal. I loaded my dog, Olive, into my 2019 Jeep Cherokee Latitude Plus, as she would be going to doggy daycare that day. I drove the approximately 5 miles (less than 20 minutes) to the elementary school where I teach and parked my car in one of my usual spots in the parking lot, arriving at approximately 8:15 am. My doggy daycare service arrives at approximately 8:55 am to pick up my dog. Olive has a bed in my car and is well accustomed to the routine of waiting in my car as I prepare my classroom for the day. I locked the vehicle and headed into the building.   I had not yet arrived in my classroom, when an announcement came over the intercom stating that a car was on fire in the parking lot and that staff needed to respond. I ran out of the building to the sight of four foot flames shooting out of the hood of my car. As I ran to the vehicle to save my dog, I pushed the unlock button on the key fob, yet none of the doors would unlock. My dog was locked inside a burning vehicle. After looking for something to break a window, the custodian of our building, risking his personal safety, ran behind the burning car, opened the back hatch and freed my dog literally seconds before the airbags deployed and the windshield exploded. The entire staff of my school watched as my three month old Jeep Cherokee Latitude Plus burned to a crisp.   I purchased my Jeep from West Hills Jeep and Chrysler located in Bremerton, Washington on August 5th, 2019 – less than three months before this incident. This was my second Jeep purchase.  I was so pleased with my first vehicle that I not only purchased a new one, I also recommended the vehicle to family and friends (at least one of whom also purchased a Jeep).  At the time of the fire, the car had less than 2500 miles on it.  It hadn’t even had its first oil change!   I am a one-income household. I pride myself in the fact that I have worked hard in my life and earn a good living. Driving a newer car is something that has always given me security. I had resigned myself to the fact that I would likely always have a car payment because, as a single woman, I don’t want to worry about car problems. Unfortunately, this experience has rendered that feeling of security null and void. Even almost two months later, I still experience the rush of anxiety and panic I had pulling frantically on the door handles of that car trying to get to my dog. The thought of watching her be engulfed in the growing flames still haunts me.   Adding another layer of hardship and anxiety to this situation is that my car insurance would only cover a loaner if my car had been stolen, thus I had no vehicle for six weeks. Feeling desperate, I asked the dealer for help with a rental. As a loyal customer that purchased this vehicle just three months prior (I had also purchased another vehicle from this dealership in the past), I thought for sure that they would be quick to help somehow. However, this was not the case. It seemed my phone calls were passed from one manager to the next, nobody really wanting to talk to me at all. They were rude, passive and did nothing to make me feel like customer service is of any importance. As a result of having no vehicle, I missed work, had to cancel scheduled appointments and rely on others for transportation.  Not to mention, there was a snow storm during this unfortunate timeline and again, I had no vehicle.    After some research, it has come to my attention that Jeeps have a reputation of engine fires. In fact, as you know, there is a recall on the 2018 Jeep Cherokee for this exact problem. With a simple internet search, you can find several models and years of Jeeps that have had issues with the engines catching on fire. The fact that my Jeep was a 2019 model and it still caught fire leads me to believe that your company has not fixed the problems with your vehicles.   To say this experience was scary or an inconvenience is a huge understatement.  But your response to the incident and the treatment I received from your dealership makes it downright disheartening and absurd. This is how you stand by your product and your customers?  I bought a brand new car and it catches fire while parked, burns to near nothing and your response is "sorry for the inconvenience"? I understand that accidents happen. I understand that things go wrong. However, I don’t understand how your company can justify your response to my brand new vehicle burning to a total loss and taking no responsibility for your product. I trusted your product. Spent my hard earned money on your product and this was NOT what I paid for. Your response of “thank you for bringing it to our attention” is a slap in the face and unacceptable. If a car that you manufactured catches fire at only three months old, it is certainly the fault of the manufacturer and I would expect some type of compensation for my loss and inconvenience.    Needless to say, I will not be returning to your dealership or purchasing any of your products in the future.  I will also do my best to inform any and all that I may come in contact with about this experience.  I expected better from you.

9 people found this helpful.
100

My brand new 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited was delivered to my home last night. I went out to drive it first thing this morning, and when I started to adjust the power seat, flames and smoke started shooting out from under my seat. I shut the engine and jumped out before the whole car went up in flames. Now the leasing company and the dealership are denying responsibility. I don't want this car anymore, I do not want it repaired or anything else. They delivered a defective brand new car, and I want out. I will keep you all posted pending the response from the leasing company, dealership, and Jeep, and will expose all names and dealers if this is not handled to my satisfaction.

10 people found this helpful.
10

Our 2020 JEEP CHEROKEE exploded into flames while I was driving Tuesday, 1/5. To say this was a terrifying experience is an understatement. We have had the car since August and it had only around 3K miles. We've reported this to our insurance co., the dealership and to Chrysler Corp. We have heard NOTHING back from Chrysler. The car is unrecognizable and we of course lost all personal items inside the car to the fire. I am lucky to be alive and grateful to the team of firemen who risked their lives at the scene. DO NOT or lease a 2020 Jeep Cherokee. I am disgusted that Chrysler/Jeep has not responded to this horrific incident.

1 people found this helpful.
20

My 2019 Cherokee just got on fire yesterday can some one, please advise me on what to do. Thanks.

2 people found this helpful.

My 2017 Cherokee got on fire when I put on the engine heater. Installed late september 2020 by the dealer. Nor the dealer and the insurance company want to pay, but the insurance company continue their investigation.

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