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2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

fire1 injured · 856624 · 2011-05-16

Vehicle

Make
CHEVROLET
Model
MALIBU
Year
2005
Manufacturer
General Motors, LLC
Component
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Miles at failure
59,500
Speed
30 mph

Severity

Deaths
0
Injured
1
Fire
Yes
Crash
No
Police report
No
Medical attention
No
Vehicle towed
No

Narrative

MY 21 YR OLD SON WAS DRIVING HIS CAR ON A CITY STREET WHEN HE STARTED TO SMELL A BAD ODOR, POSSIBLY MELTING PLASTIC. WITHIN 15 SECONDS, FLAMES SHOT UP THE FRONT SEAT CENTER CONSOLE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. HE QUICKLY PULLED OVER AND TRIED TO PUT OUT THE FLAMES. BURNING HIS HAND IN THE PROCESS AND REALIZING VERY QUICKLY THIS WOULDN'T WORK, HE QUICKLY AND URGENTLY LEFT THE VEHICLE AND CALLED 911. WITHIN 30 SECONDS OF LEAVING THE VEHICLE, THE FLAMES SPREAD AND COMPLETELY CONSUMED THE VEHICLE. THIS VEHICLE WAS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION, NOTHING CHANGED/TAILORED FROM THE FACTORY (IE. STOCK PARTS INCLUDING THE RADIO), AND NO RECENT MAINTENANCE. IF THERE HAD BEEN A SMALL CHILD IN A CAR SEAT, ETC., THIS SITUATION COULD HAVE RESULTED IN SERIOUS INJURY, EVEN A DEATH. *TR

Source

Authoritative
NHTSA ODI Flat-File Downloads
ODI Number
10401833
Machine
JSON-LD · Markdown