NHTSA complaint: 2001 GMC SIERRA 2500 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I WAS TRAVELING AT APPROX. 50MPH WITH TWO PASSENGERS, WEATHER CLEAR, WHEN WE SMELLED A HINT OF BURNING PLASTIC. CONTINUED TRAVELING AND AFTER 2 OR SO MILES THE TRUCK SLOWED AND ACTED AS THOUGH IT WAS RUNNING OUT OF FUEL. PULLED TO SIDE PASSENGER IN BACK SEAT NOTICED THE TRUCK WAS ON FIRE BETWEEN THE BED AND CAB UNDERNEATH. WITNESS WHO WAS BEHIND IN ANOTHER VEHICLE STATED THAT SPARKS WERE FLYING FROM THE TRUCK WHILE GOING DOWN THE ROAD PREVIOUS TO MY PULLING OVER. THE FIRE WAS LEANING TOWARD THE DRIVERS SIDE SO AFTER A TRYING TIME OF WAITING FOR THE FRONT SEAT PASSENGER TO FIND THE LOCK, WE ESCAPED THROUGH THE PASS DOOR UNHURT. A FIRE EXTINGUISHER PROVED TO BE NO HELP AS THE TRUCK WAS SOON ENGULFED IN FLAMES. MY TRUCK HAD 75,000 MILES ON IT, HAD NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT AND WAS DEALER MAINTAINED. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER. I CALLED GM WHO RESPONDED QUICKLY AND STATED THEY WOULD SEND AN INVESTIGATION TEAM OUT. AFTER COMMUNICATION BETWEEN GM AND MY INSURANCE CO, GM STATED THEY WERE GOING TO WORK WITH THE INSURANCE AND CLOSE THE CASE WITHOUT LOOKING AT THE VEHICLE. I FEEL SOMEBODY SHOULD INSPECT THIS TRUCK AS WE COULD HAVE EASILY BEEN KILLED OUT THERE AND TRUCKS SHOULD NOT SPONTANEOUSLY GO UP IN FLAMES! WOULD BE A SHAME TO SETTLE FOR INSURANCE MONEY AND HAVE THE EVIDENCE CRUSHED WHILE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE ARE DRIVING THE SAME TRUCK. MY TRUCK IS DESTROYED BUT PERHAPS LIVES WILL BE SAVED IF THIS SITUATION IS LOOKED INTO.
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — Office of Defects Investigation