First, I am not sure to complain, gripe, rant, yell or just be downright fearful. I am currently stationed overseas and purchased this Dodge Journey through the military overseas cars sales(known as the military autosource MAS). I am preparing to head back to the US to continue to be gainfully employed with the federal government. Seeing the deals with MAS and have a family of four, the Journey seemed to be a great choice with our needs.

Now fast forward to the concern of the problem. I opted to have the vehicle waiting for us and provided my mother a POA to pickup and register it before our arrival. With the odometer reading under 80 miles, you would think no issues would happen so soon. My mother, bless her heart, has provided a means to keep the car ready by starting it and driving it around the block until we come home to pick it up.

Last week, she attempted to start it and it refused to give her any love. She did call the dealership where it had been delivered to and they explained it needed a jump due to it not being started for a week. They suggested to try to jump the vehicle first or they would have to charge a towing fee for the 60 mile drive to the dealership.

My mother opted to try the jump start first. Granted, my mother is 72 and very able, she decided to reach out to the neighbors for assistance to jump the Journey. After the neighbor connected the cables per the manual(yes she reads those things) they turned it over.....Wait for it.... The neighbor started freaking out yelling stop! stop! there is gas shooting out all over the place! She stopped pushing the start button and hopped out of the car.

Again, my mother, bless her heart was more worried about the car catching on fire and having to give me the dreaded call the the car had caught on fire. Luckily no fire had occurred and the neighbor only had a slight panic attack when he saw the gas shooting out of the engine cpmpartment.

They stopped following the dealers instructions to jump the battery, the neighbor went home, and my mother immediately contacted the dealership for advice. Needless to say, the dealership dispatched a tow truck at no charge and brought it back to the dealership garage to initiate repairs covered by the warranty. It gets better...

They contacted my mother the next day stating the repairs are complete and to come pick up the car. No laughing now, my mother contacted one of her friends ( I think 77 years old) to give her a ride to the dealership(60 miles away). They made it back home with no problems. It only cost her a fill up of her friends car to pick it up.

Now for my concern, rant and question of buying a new vehicle. Having two kids under 5 years old and a beautiful wife to take care of fr the rest of my life, the thought of driving a vehicle that has the possibility of catching fire due to a faulty fuel system (past historical issues with Chrysler and dodges) is not very amusing. Since I bough the vehicle through this program, I am basically stuck with it until it is paid off.

Having to drive a vehicle that could catch on fire and putting my family at risk is not a good situation to be in.

I hope this issue is a one time problem from poor quality control at the factory and is repaired properly not to happen again. But on the other hand, what other items as simple as a fuel line had been overlooked or defective? I had instructed my mother to continue to start it if she felt safe, but she had said that starting it will not be an issue. Wish me luck on purchasing a not a lemon vehicle!

Update from Nov 30, 2015: I received the verbiage from the dealership invoice after the repairs were completed. It reads as follows:

The problem was fuel sprays out of engine compartment when running. ck over - reconnect fuel line to fuel rail. (improperly installed)

Charge $19.14 for Labor and Towing charge $186.25 total $205.39 Warranty Claim.