NHTSA complaint: 1998 CHEVROLET CAVALIER — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
THE CAVALIER WAS DRIVEN TO WORK BY MY DAUGHTER ON 11-09-98. SHE PARKED THE CAR AND LOCKED IT AND WENT TO WORK AT THE AFTER SCHOOL DAY CARE FOR THE YMCA. ABOUT 5 MINUTES LATER, A PARENT ENTERED AND ASKED WHO OWNED THE CAVALIER BECAUSE SMOKE WAS COMING FROM IT'S ENGINE. BY THE TIME MY DAUGHTER RAN OUTSIDE THE CAR HAD BURST INTO FLAMES. THE SCHOOL CUSTODIANS TRIED TO PUT THE FIRE OUT WITH FIRE EXTINGUISHERS BUT THEY WERE ONLY SUCCESSFUL IN PUTTING OUT THE FLAMES THAT RAN FROM MY CAR TO 2 OTHERS. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED AND THEY DETERMINED THAT THE FIRE STARTED IN THE ENGINE DUE TO EITHER FAULTY ELECTRICAL OR GAS LINES. I HAVE CONTACTED GM AND THEY HAVE HAD THEIR INSPECTOR LOOK AT THE CAR ON 11-16-98. SINCE THE INSPECTOR LOOKED AT THE CAR, THEIR CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE JENNY YURENKA WILL NOT RETURN MY PHONE CALLS. A RECEPTIONIST INFORMED ME THAT IT WILL TAKE GM ANOTHER 14 DAYS TO DETERMINE WHAT TO DO WITH A CAR THAT BURSTS INTO FLAMES FOR NO APPARENT REASONS.
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — Office of Defects Investigation