The dodge ram 2023 B25C SBH4 we rented from enterprise on July 9 was brand new. It had 8,000 miles on it. The enterprise agent assured us we would be better off with this one, a gasoline engine, than a diesel, which we normally rent to tow our half ton travel trailer.
after driving nearly 2,000 miles with no issues, the truck exploded, the engine caught fire and the entire thing burned to the ground (along with our trailer and all its contents!!).
on august 7, we were between wendover and elko in Nevada on I-80 at around 8pm. Suddenly we heard a massive bang in the engine (like a metal piece had come loose and hit something inside). As my husband pulled over we heard a thumping noise above the right wheel, as if something heavy and metal was scraping agains the inside of the rim.
we don’t know much about cars so we thought at first it was a blown tire. But when I got out, I was eye level with a perfectly inflated tire on the passenger side and a massive engine fire! Within seconds the fire was so hot fire was dripping onto the asphalt below us!
I screamed for my children and dog and husband to get out and run, which we did.
two guys who happened to stop had a fire extinguisher and they tried to out out the fire but had no luck. They said it seemed like the fuel was still pumping into the engine.
I called 911 but it took 30 minutes for them to arrive. By that time, the fire had spread from the truck to the travel trailer, igniting the batteries, propane tanks and pretty much everything else!
It was absolutely terrifying! So far, enterprise and dodge are not taking any responsibility or even answering our emails.
Do you have any idea how this happened and why?? We saw there was a recall on dodge rams for engine fires but it was only the diesels. Any idea why this happened and if you have other people here who had the same issue, we’d love to know about it. Maybe our case can help other people and if there’s a lawsuit we would be happy to join it and provide our pictures and videos from the scene.
Would love to hear from you and anyone else here who may know how this happened.
Do you have any idea how this happened and why??
The short answer is that today's Chrysler products are of shockingly low quality.
Fortunately it sounds like no one was hurt. Of course those companies are going to deny all responsibility. You're going to need a lawyer to go after them.
Thanks for the answer! We did get insurance but it only covers the truck, it our travel trailer. I can’t actually find a lawyer who deals with property damage. Since no one was hurt no lawyer wants to even speak to us! We are so disgusted by their behavior. If you know any lawyers who can take a property damage case I’d be balky to have one!!
there's always small claims court
Or Judge Judy.
Why did our Dodge Ram explode and burn to the ground??
Who knows. If it were mine I'd have it investigated, but it's up to the rental company.
Chrysler/Jeep/Dodge are just rolling piles of (now flaming) garbage.
Scotty says "Yeah I'm not lying when I said they build those things like crap. Ever since Fiat took over they've been garbage. "
I just posted a similar story to yours the other day. A Jeep in this case that grenaded and caught fire. It's not the only one.
Thank you for posting your story. I'll be sure never to rent one. Apparently, they're not even good enough to last a few hours.
https://www.instagram.com/reel/CvFW_7JOxhJ/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading
Yes absolutely shocking! Wow this looks bad too! There was nothing left of ours! They sent investigators and I would like to send one but I can’t even get a lawyer to take the case because no one was injured and since it’s a rental we don’t even have Fuji access to the truck like we would if we owned it.
We saw there was a recall on dodge rams for engine fires but it was only the diesels.
The issue in those recalled vehicles is actually that a relay (the electronics) causes the fire, not the engine.
This company is known for crappy electronics.
Did you purchase insurance with the rental company (Enterprise)? I usually do that to cover myself in case something happens (“act of God”).
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If you paid for their insurance then it should all be covered.
We did get insurance and paid extra for liability but third party doesn’t cover our own belongings. So we’re not responsible for the truck but they are saying they’re not sure who will take responsibility until they investigate. Probably without a lawyer we will get nowhere but I can’t even find one to take the case since no one was injured. Ridiculous state of affairs…