NHTSA Complaint #10344748 — 2001 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500

WE WERE TRAVELING SOUTH ON I-5 WHEN WE STOPPED IN MEDFORD, OREGON TO FILL UP OUR 2001 CHEV. DURAMAX PICKUP WITH DIESEL. AFTER FILLING UP, WE NOTICED SMOKE AND A BURNT SMELL COMING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. WE OPENED TO HOOD TO FIND WIRES SMOLDERING. WE IMMEDIATELY MOVED THE PICKUP AWAY FROM THE FUEL TANKS AT THE GAS STATION AND RE-OPENED THE HOOD. MY HUSBAND REMOVED THE PLASTIC SHROUD CONTAINING WHAT LOOKED TO BE ENCLOSED WIRES WHICH WERE SMOLDERING. I GOT THE FIRE EXTINGUISHER FROM THE GAS STATION ATTENDANT. AS MY HUSBAND WAS TRYING THE SEPARATE THE WIRES THAT WERE SMOLDERING WHICH WERE ALSO BURNING HIS FINGERS, FLAMES ERUPTED. WE USED THE FIRE EXTINGUISHER TO EXTINGUISH THE FLAMES. WE TOOK THE PICKUP TO THE DEALER IN JUNCTION CITY, OREGON (GUARANTY). THEY DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS THE GLOW PLUG/INTAKE HEATER RELAY ASSEMBLY FAILURE WHICH CAUSED THE FIRE. IT WAS REPLACED WITH A NEW ONE. WE WERE EXTREMELY LUCKY THAT WE MOVED THE PICKUP AWAY FROM THE FUEL TANKS AT THE GAS STATION AND HAD A FIRE EXTINGUISHER FROM THE GAS STATION ATTENDANT HANDY AT THAT TIME. THERE WAS ALSO A TANKER TRUCK NEXT TO US FILLING UP THE UNDERGROUND GAS TANKS WHEN THE WIRES BURST INTO FLAMES. MANY LIVES COULD HAVE BEEN LOST BECAUSE OF THIS INCIDENT. WE WERE VERY LUCKY. IN MY OPINION, IF A PART FAILS ON A VEHICLE (WHICH I KNOW THEY DO), IT SHOULD NOT HAVE TO CATCH FIRE IN ORDER TO GET MY ATTENTION. *TR