NHTSA Complaint #10225249 — 2001 SATURN LS

THE BLINKER / LIGHT HANDLE ON THE LEFT HAND SIDE OF THE STEERING WHEEL, WHICH ALSO CONTROLS THE BRIGHT LIGHTS. WHEN I TURN THE BLINKER ON EITHER TURNING LEFT OR RIGHT, THE BRIGHT LIGHTS COME ON, AND CAUSES THE BLINKER ELECTRICAL WIRING TO ARC AND CAUSE A SMALL FIRE IN THE STEERING COLUMN AREA, WHICH EMITS SMOKE INTO THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE, ALSO AN ODOR OF BURNING WIRES. AT ONE POINT THERE WAS A SMALL FIRE IN THAT AREA, WHICH CAUSED ME TO HAVE TO PULL OVER AND BLOW OUT MANUALLY (DO NOT HAVE A PLACE FOR A FIRE EXTINGUISHER IN THE VEHICLE). EVER SINCE THAT DAY, IT HAS DONE THIS, ARCING AND CAUSING THE SMOKE IN THE CABIN. ONE TIME ONLY HAS IT FLARED UP WITH VISIBLE FLAMES AND IT DID NOT DESTROY THE VEHICLE, NOR CAUSED ANY OTHER DAMAGE OF ANY SORT. HOWEVER IT STILL DOES CAUSE THE ARCING IN THE WIRING AND CAUSE THE SMOKE TO FILL PART OF CABIN. *TR