NHTSA Complaint #10021481 — 1996 CHEVROLET BLAZER

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY WHEN MY 1996 CHEVY BLAZER BEGAN TO SMOKE UNDER THE HOOD. THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE SHOWED THE CAR WAS NOT OVER HEATING. I PULLED OFF THE HIGHWAY TO ALLOW THE SMOKE TO CLEAR AND PULLED THE HOOD RELEASE. AFTER 5 MINUTES THE CAR CONTINUED TO SMOKE. I GOT OUT OF THE CAR TO CHECK UNDER THE HOOD. I NOTICED A BLACK SPOT ON THE HOOD AND HAD THE SENSE TO REALIZE THE CAR WAS ON FIRE WITHOUT TRYING TO LIFT THE HOOD. I YELLED TO MY MOTHER TO GET OUT OF THE CAR. I CALLED 911 TO REACH THE POLICE. WHEN THEY CAME THEY COULD NOT PUT OUT THE FIRE. THE POLICEMAN CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO PUT OUT THE FIRE. I THANK GOD MY 3 YEAR OLD WAS NOT WITH ME STRAPPED IN HIS CAR SEAT AS HE USUALLY TRAVELS WITH ME. THE CAR WAS A TOTAL LOSS IN A MATTER OF MINUTES. *JB