NHTSA Complaint #10376960 — 2001 BUICK REGAL

I HAVE A 2001 BUICK REGAL THAT HAS A 3.8 LITRE SUPERCHARGED ENGINE. THIS VEHICLE WAS RECALLED FOR STARTING ON FIRE FROM OIL DRIPPING ONTO THE EXHAUST. I HAD THE RECALL DONE OVER A YEAR AGO. I DROVE THE CAR EVERY DAY. RECENTLY I LEFT THE CAR PARKED FOR TWO DAYS. WHEN I STARTED DRIVING THE CAR TOWARD WORK I NOTICED THAT IT WAS SHUTTERING SLIGHTLY AND AFTER ABOUT FOUR MILES I TURNED AROUND TO HEAD BACK HOME. ON THE WAY BACK I NOTICED A BURNING SMELL AND SMOKE STARTED COMING OUT FROM THE FLOOR NEAR THE SHIFTER. I QUICKLY PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT AND GOT OUT. THE CAR BURST INTO FLAMES AND WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED. I WAS NOT HURT BUT THE CAR WAS A TOTAL LOSS. I CALLED BUICK TO TELL THEM WHAT HAPPENED. I GOT THEIR CLAIM DEPARTMENT. I TOLD THEM WHAT HAPPENED. THEY ASKED ME IF I WANTED TO FILE A CLAIM. I TOLD THEM I WAS CONCERNED THAT I HAD THE RECALL DONE AND THE CAR BURST INTO FLAMES ANYWAY AND THAT I WANTED SOMEONE TO LOOK AT IT TO DETERMINE IF THE RECALL WAS DONE CORRECTLY OR POSSIBLY THE RECALL DOESN'T WORK. THEY TOLD ME SOMEONE WOULD CALL ME WITHIN 10 DAYS. NO ONE CALLED AND I GOT A LETTER IN THE MAIL SAYING THEY WERE NOT LIABLE AFTER TWO YEARS AFTER THE PURCHASE OF THE CAR. MY CONCERN IS THAT THE RECALL DOES NOT WORK, THAT NO ONE EVER CAME TO LOOK AT THE CAR AND THE DISMISSED ME WITHOUT TAKING ME SERIOUSLY AT ALL. THE CAR WAS IN PERFECT DRIVING SHAPE AND HAD NO PREVIOUS PROBLEMS. I TOLD BUICK THAT I WAS CONCERNED THAT IF THE RECALL DOESN'T WORK PEOPLE COULD BE KILLED (I WAS LESS THAN 100 FEET FROM THE CAR WHEN IT BURST INTO FLAMES). THE ENTIRE CAR WAS BURNT DOWN TO BARE METAL EXCEPT THE ENGINE WHICH LOOKED NEW. THE OWNER OF THE TOW YARD SAID HE HAD NEVER SEEN A CAR BURN THAT WAY UNLESS THE OWNER TRIED TO BURN IT OR THE EXHAUST SET THE BOTTOM OF THE CAR ON FIRE. BUICK EXCEPTS NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS AND THEY DID NOT CARE ENOUGH TO LOOK AT THE CAR THE ENSURE THE RECALL WORKED OR THAT OTHER PEOPLE DO NOT GET HURT IF IT FAILS. *TR