NHTSA complaint: 1998 CHEVROLET SILVERADO — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
THE DASHBOARD IN THE TRUCK CAUGHT ON FIRE. WE WERE ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE BEFORE EXTENSIVE DAMAGE WAS DONE. THE GM DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THAT THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS THE WIRING HARNESS UNDER THE HOOD. WE REPORTED THIS TO GM, AND THEY SAID THAT THEY HAD NO OTHER REPORTS AND WERE NOT GOING TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT BECAUSE OF THE AGE OF THE VEHICLE. I LOOKED ON THE NHTSA SITE AND FOUND 52 PAGES OF OTHER CHEVROLET TRUCKS WITH SIMILAR PROBLEMS FROM 1996 TO 2002. I BELIEVE SOMEONE COULD GET SERIOUSLY HURT OR KILLED IF THIS WERE TO HAPPEN WHILE DRIVING. WE WERE FORTUNATE THAT WE WERE ABLE TO PUT THE FIRE OUT. GM WILL NOT EVEN INVESTIGATE THIS PROBLEM, OUR EXTENDED WARRANTY ISN'T WORTH THE PAPER IT IS WRITTEN ON AND OUR INSURANCE COMPANY WILL ONLY PAY FOR ENSUING DAMAGE. I THINK SOMEONE WITH SOME AUTHORIY SHOULD CONTACT GM SINCE THIS IS AN OBVIOUS DEFECT IN DESIGN. MICHAEL BUTORI. *AK
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — Office of Defects Investigation