NHTSA Complaint #10273454 — 1999 OLDSMOBILE INTRIGUE

ON SAT, MAY 9, I DROVE MY VEHICLE TO WORK AND PARKED IN THE BUSINESS PARKING LOT, TURNED OFF THE IGNITION, LEFT THE VEHICLE TO GO INSIDE AND CHECK ON MY EMPLOYEES.. APPROXIMATELY 10 MINUTES LATER A CO-WORKER NOTIFIED ME THAT SMOKE WAS COMING FROM MY VEHICLE. UPON OPENING THE HOOD I NOTICED A FIRE BURNING FROM THE MANIFOLD INTO THE ENGINE COVER AND SPARK PLUG WIRES. SEVERAL ATTEMPTS WERE MADE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE AND GET MY DOG OUT OF THE VEHICLE. THE FIRE WAS EVENTUALLY EXTINGUISHED WITH A FIRE EXTINGUISHER. THERE WAS A STRONG OIL SMELL. THE INCIDENT WAS OBSERVED BY CO-WORKERS AND CAPTURED BY SECURITY CAMERAS. OIL WAS LEAKING FROM VALVE COVER AND HAD IGNITED ON THE MANIFOLD AND BURNED VARIOUS PLASTIC PARTS OF THE ENGINE COMPONENTS. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO START AND, ACCEPT FOR A HESITATION IN THE ENGINE, WAS DRIVABLE. CONTACTED DEALER, WAS TOLD THAT ISSUE WAS PART OF A RECALL. WAS TOLD CAR WOULD HAVE TO BE HELD FOR 2-3 WEEKS FOR AN ASSESSMENT OF CAUSE BEFORE THE MINOR REPAIRS WOULD BE MADE. WHEN I EXPLAINED THAT MY WORK REQUIRES DRIVING, THE DEALERS WOULD NOT PROVIDE ME WITH ANY TYPE OF VEHICLE. I WAS TOLD I COULD TAKE MY CAR, EVEN THOUGH IT IS RECALLED, WITHOUT ANY OF THE REPAIRS BEING MADE TO MAKE IT SAFE FROM CATCHING FIRE AGAIN. *TR