NHTSA complaint: 2000 PONTIAC GRAND AM — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
MY WIFE WAS DRIVING MY CAR TO WORK AT 6:30 AM ON HIGHWAY. IT IS A 2000 PONTIAC GRAND AM WITH 88,000+ MILES. NEVER HAD A PROBLEM LIKE THIS BEFORE. THE FACTORY INSTALLED CD STOPPED PLAYING. SHE REINSERTED IT. IT STOPPED AGAIN. SHE GLANCED IN HER REAR VIEW MIRROR TO SEE WHAT APPEARED TO BE A SILVERY GLOW AT THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE SPEAKER. THEN A FIRE FROM THE SPEAKER. BY THE TIME THE CAR WAS ABLE TO STOP ALONG SIDE THE HIGHWAY, THE FLAMES FILLED THE WHOLE REAR WINDOW. SHE TRIED TO OPEN THE DOOR, IT REMAINED LOCKED. SHE TRIED TO OPEN THE DRIVER WINDOW, IT WOULD NOT RELEASE. THE FLAMES WERE NOW OVER HEAD AND ALONG THE PASSENGER SEAT . SHE SHUT THE CAR OFF, PULLED OUT THE KEY AND THE DOOR FINALLY OPENED. SHE GOT OUT OF THERE, OPENED THE BACK DOOR AND GOT OUT HER PURSE ON THE FLOOR. SHE BEAT IT DOWN THE HIGHWAY. SHE LOOKED BACK AND COULD SEE FLAMES NOW UNDER THE CAR AND THE INSIDE COMPLETELY BURNING. TWO TRUCKS HAD STOPPED AND THE GUYS HAD FIRE EXTINGUISHERS TO PUT OUT THE FIRE. THEN THE FIRE TRUCK AND POLICE ARRIVED. THE FIRE WAS COMPLETELY DOUSED OUT. THE ONLY THING NOT BURNT WAS THE FRONT END AND THE ENGINE. SHE CAME SECONDS FROM LOSING HER LIFE. NATIONAL WILL TREAT THIS AS A TOTAL WRITE OFF BUT I ALMOST LOST MY WIFE (IT COULD HAVE BEEN ME THAT DAY). HAVE YOU EVER HEARD OF ANYTHING SO FREAKY? A SPEAKER ON FIRE?*JB
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — Office of Defects Investigation