NHTSA Complaint #10285190 — 2008 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500

PRELUDE TO THIS EVENT, INVOLVING MY 2008 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500 (APPROX 16,200 MILES), WAS THE WARRANTY REPLACEMENT FOR THE FAILURE OF ALL 4 POWER DOOR LOCK ACTUATORS. THE ACTUATORS FAILED ONE AT A TIME AND EACH TIME AN ACTUATOR WOULD FAIL, THE VEHICLE WOULD SHOCK THE DRIVER WHEN TOUCHING THE METAL DOOR WHILE EXITING THE VEHICLE. THE LAST ACTUATOR WAS REPLACED BY THE DEALERSHIP ON SEPTEMBER 18TH, 2009. ON SEPTEMBER 19TH, 2009, AFTER ENGAGING MY VEHICLE INTO REVERSE GEAR, THE DASHBOARD ELECTRICAL WENT DEAD. GAUGES WENT DARK AND RADIO BEGAN TO BLINK. WITHIN 5-10 SECONDS, SMELL OF BURNING ELECTRICAL CAME INTO THE CAB OF THE VEHICLE. I POPPED THE HOOD AND MY PASSENGER IMMEDIATELY IDENTIFIED A FIRE NEAR THE TRANSMISSION ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED BEFORE ENGULFING THE VEHICLE. AFTER INSPECTION, WE FOUND A SHORTED OUT WIRE NEAR THE STARTER AND A BROKEN TRANSMISSION COOLING LINE. THE CAUSE OF BOTH ANOMALIES IS UNKNOWN AT THIS POINT. VEHICLE IS AT THE DEALERSHIP THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED FROM. THIS OCCURRED UNDER "NORMAL" CONDITIONS ON AN IMPROVED DRIVING SURFACE. *TR