NHTSA Complaint #10456077 — 2001 CHEVROLET IMPALA

ON 4/09/12 AT APPROXIMATELY 18:20 I GOT IN THE CAR THAT HAD BEEN SITTING ALL DAY IN THE DRIVEWAY OF MY HOME AND WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO START IT THERE WAS A LOUD EXPLOSION AND SMOKE STARTED COMING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. AFTER FEELING THE HOOD I OPENED IT AND DISCOVERED A FIRE ON THE TOP OF THE ENGINE AND ALONG THE BACK SIDE OF THE ENGINE CLOSEST TO THE FIREWALL. FORTUNATELY SINCE I WAS HOME I HAD QUICK ACCESS TO AN ABC FIRE EXTINGUISHER AND I RAN INTO THE GARAGE AND GRABBED IT AND PUT OUT THE FIRE. AFTER THE FIRE WAS OUT I NOTED THE ENTIRE ENGINE COVER AND THE TOP OF THE ENGINE UNDER THE COVER WAS IN PIECES ALL OVER THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND IT APPEARED THE EXPLOSION WAS INSIDE THE AIR PLENUM/ INTAKE MANIFOLD. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO MY LOCAL AUTO SERVICE LOCATION VIA AAA AND CONTACTED MY INSURANCE CARRIER THE FOLLOWING DAY. REPAIRS INCLUDED REPLACING THE AIR PLENUM, FUEL RAIL, INJECTORS, FUELS LINES, IGNITION WIRES, FUEL REGULATOR, AND VARIOUS GASKET KITS AND SENSORS. BASED ON INTERNET RESEARCH I HAVE HEARD OF THE FUEL REGULATOR DRAWING RAW FUEL INTO THE AIR PLENUM / INTAKE MANIFOLD VIA A VACUUM LINE WHICH RESULTS IN THE EXPLOSION WHEN YOU ATTEMPT TO START THE CAR. *TR