← NHTSA complaints

2002 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500 — SEAT BELTS

fire · 1182754 · 2015-05-14

Vehicle

Make
CHEVROLET
Model
SILVERADO 2500
Year
2002
Manufacturer
General Motors, LLC
Component
SEAT BELTS
Miles at failure
243,244
Speed
75 mph

Severity

Deaths
0
Injured
0
Fire
Yes
Crash
No
Police report
No
Medical attention
No
Vehicle towed
No

Narrative

AS I WAS DRIVING AT 75 MPH, THE INDICATOR LIGHT SAID, ENGINE OVERHEATED. I THEN NOTICED WHITE SMOKE COMING FROM THE HOOD. THE WHITE SMOKE TURNED BLACK. I PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND BEFORE I COULD SHUT THE ENGINE OFF, THE ENGINE SHUT OFF ON ITS OWN. FIRE BEGAN COMING UP WHERE THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ARE LOCATED AND PROCEEDED THROUGH THE DASHBOARD. I TRIED TO UNLATCH MY SEAT BELT BUT IT WOULD NOT RELEASE. AFTER SEVERAL TRIES IT RELEASED. I ATTEMPTED TO OPEN THE DOOR; HOWEVER, I HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. THE DOOR DID NOT OPEN. AFTER BUMPING THE DOOR FORCIBLY MANY TIMES, IT ALSO CAME OPEN. MIND YOU, ALL THE WHILE THE FLAMES ARE COMING INSIDE THE CAB. I CALLED 911 AND THE COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS DISPATCHED, BUT NOT BEFORE IT WAS FULLY ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE VEHICLE WAS WELL MAINTAINED. I WANT TO KNOW WHAT STEPS TO TAKE TO PREVENT THIS FROM EVER HAPPENING AGAIN?

Source

Authoritative
NHTSA ODI Flat-File Downloads
ODI Number
10716507
Machine
JSON-LD · Markdown