NHTSA Complaint #10135483 — 2001 BUICK REGAL

I RETURNED HOME FROM A SHORT TRIP TO THE STORE ON 9/3/05, TURNED OFF THE CAR, AND PARKED MY 2001 BUICK REGAL GS IN THE DRIVEWAY. ABOUT 5-10 MINUTES LATER, MY HUSBAND SAID HE SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING. HE LOOKED OUT THE FRONT DOOR, AND SMOKE AND FLAMES WERE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD OF THE CAR. I CALLED 911, AND MY HUSBAND ATTEMPTED TO CONTAIN THE FLAMES UNTIL THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED. THE ENGINE TRIED TO START, ON ITS OWN, WHILE IT WAS BURNING. THE CAR RADIO CAME ON. THE ENGINE WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES WHEN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED. THE CAR APPEARS TO BE A TOTAL LOSS. IN ADDITION, THE HEAT FROM THE FLAMES MELTED THE VINYL SIDING ON MY HOUSE, INASMUCH AS THE CAR WAS PARKED IN FRONT OF THE GARAGE NEXT TO THE HOUSE. *NM