NHTSA complaint: 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I ALWAYS PARKED CAR IN A GARAGE, BUT THIS DAY NO SPOTS WERE OPEN SO I PARKED ON THE STREET AND WENT TO WORK. ABOUT A 1/2 HOUR LATER I LOOKED THE WINDOW AND NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE BACK OF THE CAR. I RAN OUT TO SEE WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS, AND SAW FIRE ON THE BACK BUMPER AREA ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. SOMEONE CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. WHILE I GRABBED A FEW THINGS OUT OF THE INSIDE OF THE CAR. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT T CAME AND EVENTUALLY PUT OUT THE FIRE. I HAVE NEVER KNOWN A CAR TO SPONTANEOUSLY COMBUSTION BEFORE, AND IT WAS A VERY TRAUMATIC EXPERIENCE. THE CAR WAS DESTROYED BETWEEN THE FIRE, SMOKE AND WATER, AND DECLARED TOTALED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. THE ORIGIN OF THE FIRE APPEARED TO BE IN THE TAIL LIGHT SECTION AND TO BE ELECTRICAL IN NATURE. I DID NOT HAVE ANY PRIOR PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR, AND IT WAS EQUIPPED AS ORIGINALLY LEASED FROM THE DEALER. IT WAS ONLY TWO YEARS OLD AND STILL UNDER THE WARRANTY. THANKFULLY ,NO ONE WAS HURT/KILLED THIS TIME. I BELIEVE THIS CAR WAS DEFECTIVE AND POSED A VERY REAL DANGER TO MY FAMILY AS WELL AS MY COWORKERS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS EXTREMELY UNCOOPERATIVE IN DISCUSSING THE PROBLEM - WITH NOT EVEN A 'SORRY YOU ARE HAVING TROUBLE WITH ONE OF OUR PRODUCTS' LINE AS I WANTED TO BE REIMBURSED FOR THE DEDUCTIBLE THAT I WILL HAVE TO GIVE THE INSURANCE COMPANY.*AK
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — Office of Defects Investigation