NHTSA Complaint #10128416 — 2003 SATURN L200

PRECEEDING THE TWO ELECTRICAL FIRES IN MY VEHICLE, I HAD INTERMITTENT ISSUES WITH SHORTS IN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (THE LOCKS UNLOCKING/LOCKING AT RANDOM; LIGHTS GOING ON AND OFF AND THE ALARM SYSTEM TRIGGERING EVEN WHEN NOT SET). THERE WAS ALSO LEAKAGE FROM SOMEWHERE IN THE CAR (EITHER THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD OR ELSEWHERE IN THE FRONT) THAT WAS QUITE NOTICEABLE DURING A HEAVY STORM. EARLIER THIS YEAR, I WAS EXITING A PARKING GARAGE WHEN I FIRST SAW AND THEN SMELLED SMOKE COMING FROM OUT OF THE DASH. THE ELECTRICAL WIRES SHORTED OUT AND CAUSED A FIRE THAT MELTED A PORTION OF THE WIRING IN THE FRONT OF THE CAR. THE DEALERSHIP COULD NOT REPAIR THE CAR FOR SEVERAL DAYS AND DURING A STORM TWO DAYS LATER, THE ENTIRE SYSTEM SHORTED OUT AGAIN (LIGHTS AND OTHER COMPONENTS WOULD NOT TURN OFF) AND THE BATTERY COMPLETELY DISCHARGED. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THAT THE LEAK WAS DUE TO A FAULTY WINDSHIELD PLACEMENT AND REPLACED THE WINDSHIELD (AND WATER-TESTED IT) ALONG WITH THE AFFECTED WIRING SYSTEMS, THE BATTERY AND THE CARPETING. NOW, JUST TWO DAYS AGO, I HAVE HAD A RECURRENCE OF THE SAME ISSUE. AGAIN, AFTER A HEAVY STORM, I WOKE TO DISCOVER THAT THE WIRING IN THE SAME AREA OF THE CAR HAD SHORTED OUT. THIS TIME, THE RESULTING FIRE MELTED THE PLASTIC HOUSING SURROUNDING THE FUSEBOX, AND THE HOUSING IS NOW A PILE OF MELTED GOO ON THE CARPET IN THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE CAR. THE DEALERSHIP HAS YET TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE SHORT.