Door Fires in Chevrolet SUVs Being Investigated by Feds
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is investigating reports of driver's side door fires in the 2006 and 2007 Chevrolet Trailblazer SUV. The safety agency has received 12 consumer complaints and a number of field reports about the General Motors vehicle.
Investigators believe the driver's side power window switch is responsible for the door fires, according to Reuters. There are reports of the switch melting and burning just before many of the incidents.
Several of these fires happened while the Trailblazer was moving, while others occurred while the car was off and unattended, explains the Associated Press. While affected vehicles suffered some interior damage, no injuries or accidents have been reported.
The 2007 Toyota Camry sedan and RAV4 SUV are also under investigation for reported door fires. The NHTSA has received at least 6 consumer complaints, some of which have been preliminary linked to the driver's side power window switch.
Officials are trying to determine if the two manufacturers got their window switches from the same parts maker, further notes the Associated Press. They will also be investigating whether other vehicles have used the part.
If the switch is to blame, potentially 309,000 Trailblazers and 830,000 Toyota vehicles will be affected.
At the moment, neither manufacturer has issued a recall. They have instead urged consumers to contact their local dealer and the NHTSA if they experience, or have experienced, a door fire or similar incident. Consumers are also asked to immediately leave a vehicle if they suspect something is wrong.
Related Resources:
- US probes door fires in 2006, 2007 TrailBlazers (BusinessWeek)
- Car Defects and Recalls Basics (FindLaw)
- Ford Recalls 450,000 Minivans, SUVs for Fire, Safety Risks (FindLaw's Common Law)