NHTSA Complaint #10524656 — 2003 GMC ENVOY XL

MY DAD WAS DRIVING HIS 2003 GMC ENVOY XL HOME FROM WORK AND HE FELT A SMALL EXPLOSION AND SAW BLACK SMOKE OUT OF HIS REAR VIEW MIRROR. SO HE PULLED OVER, GOT OUT, AND THERE WERE FLAMES UNDERNEATH THE CAR. WITHIN 5-10 MINUTES THE CAR EXPLODED. A FIRE FIGHTER AND STATE TROOPER PULLED OVER TO HELP HIM, AND THEY BOTH SAID THE FIRE LOOKED LIKE IT STARTED FROM A FUEL LEAK BECAUSE THE FLAMES WERE "DRIPPING" UNDER THE CAR. AFTER RESEARCHING RECALLS AND COMPLAINTS, I AM INFURIATED THAT THERE WERE SO MANY COMPLAINTS FILED OVER THIS PROBLEM, AND EVEN AN INVESTIGATION WAS DONE, BUT IT WAS NOT CONSIDERED SERIOUS ENOUGH TO BE A RECALL. I CAN'T EVEN THINK ABOUT WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IF HE HAD WAITED TO PULL OVER AT THE NEXT EXIT OR THE FIRST EXPLOSION HAD BEEN BIGGER. APPARENTLY, THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH ALMOST ALL YEARS OF THIS MODEL SINCE 2002. I HOPE NOTHING LIKE THIS, OR SOMETHING WORSE, HAPPENS TO ANYONE ELSE. *TR .. UPDATED 02/19/15 *BF...UPDATED 03-11-15 *BF UPDATED 04/02/15*JB