NHTSA complaint: 1997 OLDSMOBILE BRAVADA — FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:CARBURETOR SYSTEM
CONSUMER STATED VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE AND BURNED. EARLIER CONSUMER SMELLED GAS, BUT DROVE THE VEHICLE FOR ABOUT 7 MILES. HE PULLED OFF THE FREEWAY INTO A WAY STATION AND CHECKED THE VEHICLE. HE DID NOT SEE ANY GAS OR ANY LEAK. VEHICLE REMAINED PARKED FOR ABOUT 15-20 MINUTES. CONSUMER CALLED 911, THE POLICE CAME AND EXAMINED THE VEHICLE, AN DID NOT FIND ANY LEAKS OR SMELLED ANY GAS. HE WAS ADVISED BY THE POLICE NOT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE BUT TO HAVE IT CHECKED. CONSUMER TOWED VEHICLE TO A CADILLAC DEALER, WHO CHECKED THE VEHICLE, AND DID NOT FIND ANY GAS SMELL. AFTER KEEPING THE VEHICLE FOR 2 DAYS IT WAS RETURNED TO CONSUMER, WHO LET THE VEHICLE SIT FOR APPROXIMATELY 3 DAYS BEFORE DRIVING IT AGAIN. THEN, ON HIS WAY BACK FROM A TRIP CONSUMER LOOKED IN THE REAR VIEW MIRROR AND SAW FLAMES COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THEN IT EXPLODED. *AK
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — Office of Defects Investigation