TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, THERE WAS A LOUD BANGING SOUND AND SMOKE APPEARED UNDER THE HOOD. THE SPACE BETWEEN THE FIREWALL AND THE ENGINE BLOCK BURST INTO FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V701000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 230,000.