# 2006 CHEVROLET IMPALA — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
> NHTSA complaint `744361` · 2009-11-16 · General Motors, LLC
## Severity
- **Deaths:** 0
- **Injured:** 0
- **Fire:** Yes
- **Crash:** No
- **Police report:** Yes
- **Medical attention:** No
- **Vehicle towed:** No
## Vehicle
- **Make:** CHEVROLET
- **Model:** IMPALA
- **Year:** 2006
- **Manufacturer:** General Motors, LLC
- **Component:** ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- **Miles at failure:** 100,000
- **Speed:** 60 mph
## Narrative
I OWNED A 2006 IMPALA WITH 100,000 MILES ON IT.  ON 11-11-2009 I WAS DRIVING TO WORK AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE TRACTION CONTROL CAME ON. I HAD TO SLOW DOWN TO 45 MILES AN HOUR AND CROSS 3 LANES IN HEAVY TRAFFIC TO GET TO THE RIGHT HAND LANE.  AT THAT POINT THE ENGINE COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN AND STARTED SMOKING.  I GOT OUT OF THE CAR AND THERE WERE FLAMES COMING FROM THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE OF THE ENGINE.  WITHIN 3 MINUTES THE WHOLE ENGINE WAS COMPLETELY ENGULFED IN FLAMES. CAR IS COMPLETELY TOTALED AND I OWE MORE ON IT THAN IT IS WORTH. LUCKILY I HAVE GAP INSURANCE BUT FINDING A NEW CAR WITHOUT A SIZEABLE DEPOSIT IS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE. THIS WAS AN ERROR THAT GM SHOULD HAVE KNOWN ABOUT AND I SHOULD HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED OF THIS.  CAR FIRES JUST DON'T HAPPEN OUT OF NOWHERE ESPECIALLY WHEN IT'S AN ELECTRICAL FIRE. *TR
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*Source: [NHTSA ODI](https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/downloads/) · AI Analytics · CC0 1.0*