NHTSA complaint: 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA — ENGINE
MY DAUGHTER OWNED A 2002 CHEVY IMPALA. ON MONDAY 3/16/15, SHE WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AND THE ENGINE BEGAN TO SMOKE. SHE CALLED ME AND I ASKED WHAT COLOR THE SMOKE WAS. SHE SAID IT WAS BLACK SMOKE. I TOLD HER TO IMMEDIATELY GET HERSELF AND TWO SMALL CHILDREN OUT OF THE CAR. SHE AND HER SISTER REMOVED THE CHILDREN AND WALKED AWAY WHILE CALLING 911. A FEW SECONDS LATER, SHE HEARD A LOUD POP. THE WINDSHIELD BUSTED FROM THE APPARENT HEAT FROM THE FLAME THAT WERE RISING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. WITHIN SECONDS, THE ENGINE WAS IN FLAMES. I'VE RESEARCHED ONLINE, AND FOUND THAT THERE WERE TWO RECALLS IN 2007 AND 2009 STATING THAT THE ENGINE COULD IGNITE. THE CAR IS A TOTAL LOSS. SHE HAD FULL COVERAGE INSURANCE ON THE CAR, BUT IT'S BARELY ENOUGH TO REPLACE IT. IS THERE ANYTHING WE CAN DO ABOUT THIS? *TR
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — Office of Defects Investigation