1997 GMC GMC — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS

I WOULD LIKE TO REPORT AN ACCIDENT TO NHTSA. I WAS DRIVING A 25 FOOT GMC PENSKE TRUCK FROM FLORIDA TO VIRGINIA ON AUG 16TH, 2000 WHEN THE ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE UNEXPECTEDLY AND BURNED EVERY MATERIAL ITEM THAT I OWNED, INCLUDING MY 2000 TOYOTA CELICA THAT WAS BEING TOWED ON A CARRIER. I WAS LUCKY TO ESCAPE WITH SINGED LEG HAIR, AND SMOKE INHALATION AS I LITERALLY HAD TO BAIL OUT OF THE CAB AND RUN FOR MY LIFE. THE FLORIDA HIGHWAY PATROL WAS ON THE SCENE AS I95 WAS COMPLETELY CLOSED DOWN. A REPRESENTATIVE FROM PENSKE'S INSURANCE COMPANY GHALLAGER AND BASSETT, TOLD ME THAT SUCH ENGINE FIRES HAD OCCURED APPROXIMATELY 6 TIMES IN THE LAST 2 MONTHS. ALSO I KNOW OF A COUPLE WHO WAS IN A SIMILAR INCIDENT, DRIVING A PENSKE RENTAL TRUCK FROM SOUTH CAROLINA TO FLORIDA WHEN THE ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE. THE FIRE INVESTIGATOR OF MY ACCIDENT FROM PALM BEACH GARDENS FIRE DEPARTMENT IN FLORIDA, DETERMINED IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL FIRE, AND GMC HAS CONFIRMED THAT IT WAS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. I WAS TOLD THE YEAR OF THE TRUCK WAS 1993 BY A FLORIDA HIGHWAY PATROL OFFICER BASED ON THE VIN, BUT GMC CLAIMS IT WAS A 1997 VEHICLE. I WOULD LIKE NHTSA TO INVESTIGATE IF THERE HAVE BEEN SIMILAR INCIDENTS IN THE PAST, AND TAKE ACTION TO ENSURE THAT OTHER PEOPLES LIVES AND BELONGINGS ARE NOT IN DANGER. PLEASE CONTACT ME IF YOU HAVE ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION