DETROIT (AP) _ The U.S. government said it has expanded its
investigation into reports of fires starting underneath the driver's
seat of some models of the Dodge Durango sport utility vehicle.
The inquiry involves more than 118,000 Durango SUVs from the
2001-2003 model years. The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration said it has received complaints of 10 vehicle fires
starting underneath the driver's seat.
In February, NHTSA said it was looking into reports of fires. In
a notice posted recently on its website, NHTSA said that it has
opened an engineering analysis, where NHTSA engineers examine the
product.
Investigations can lead to recalls, but many are dropped.
NHTSA said six of the fires happened while the vehicle was parked
with the ignition switch off. The vehicles are not equipped with
power driver seat adjustments. There were no injuries associated
with the reported fires.
DaimlerChrysler AG spokesman Max Gates said Saturday that the
automaker continues to work with NHTSA on the investigation.
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