NHTSA Complaint #10169960 — 2004 CHEVROLET VENTURE

MY HUSBAND AND I PURCHASED A 2004 CHEVY VENTURE ON OCTOBER 24,2004. IT HAD LESS THAN 6,000 MILES ON IT. ON SEPTEMBER 27,2006, WHILE MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE,THE VAN BEGAN TO SERGE/ STALL. HE PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE INTERSTATE AND GOT OUT OF THE VAN. HE NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE HOOD AND FIGURED THAT IT MAY HAVE JUST OVERHEATED( NO WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON ). HE PULLED UP ON THE HOOD AND FLAMES SHOT OUT AT HIM. HE DROPPED THE HOOD DOWN AND WITHIN MINUTES THE VAN WAS COMPLETELY INFLAMED. 911 WAS CALLED TO THE SCENE AS WELL AS LAW ENFORCEMENT. WITH THE EXCEPTION OF SINGED HAIR AND MINOR FACIAL BURNS MY HUSBAND IS OK. THE FIRE INSPECTOR TOLD MY HUSBAND THAT THE FIRE APPARENTLY STARTED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE MOTOR. MOST OF THE TIME MY 3 CHILDREN TRAVELED IN THIS VAN. THEY WOULD HAVE NEVER BEEN ABLE TO ESCAPE THIS FIRE. THE VAN ONLY HAD AROUND 40,000 MILES ON IT . I AM WRITING THIS WITH THE HOPE THAT PEOPLE PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO SURGING OR STALLING VENTURES. I'M NOT SURE WHAT CAUSED MY VAN TO CATCH ON FIRE. HOPEFULLY THE INSURANCE COMPANY WILL SOON KNOW, BUT I WANTED TO MAKE GM AWARE OF A POTENTIALLY LIFE THREATENING PROBLEM. *JB