NHTSA Complaint #10566325 — 2000 CHEVROLET IMPALA

ON 2/24/14 AT APPROXIMATELY 2:50 PM, I PROPERLY ATTACHED A SET OF BATTERY JUMPER CABLES FROM MY TRUCK TO THIS CAR TO START IT FROM A DEAD BATTERY SITUATION. WHEN THE OWNER ATTEMPTED TO CRANK THE CAR, THERE WAS AN EXPLOSION FROM THE INTAKE MANIFOLD DURING THE CRANKING, RESULTING IN AN EXPLOSION AND SMALL FIRE. THE OWNER IMMEDIATELY SWITCHED THE CAR OFF, AND EXITED THE VEHICLE, AND I IMMEDIATELY CLOSED THE HOOD SO THAT THE FIRE WOULD NOT SPREAD, CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, AND REMOVED THE VEHICLES AROUND IT. THE FIRE DEPT. RESPONDED WITHIN 5 MIN., AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE WITH WATER. THE FIRE DEPT. AND POLICE INSPECTED THE CAR, AND LEFT AFTER IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE FIRE WAS PROPERLY EXTINGUISHED, AND THERE WAS NO FURTHER RISK OF THE FIRE RE-STARTING. THE FIRE DAMAGE WAS CONFINED TO THE ENTIRE UNDER-HOOD AREA OF THE CAR. WHEN THE EXPLOSION HAPPENED, THE ENGINE COVER AND OIL FILLER CAP WAS BLOWN APPROXIMATELY 5 FT. FROM THE CAR, THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS BLOWN OPEN, AND THE FIRE WAS BURNING INSIDE THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. WE ATTEMPTED TO PUSH THE CAR INTO THE PARKING SPACE, BUT IT WOULD NOT MOVE. IT SEEMED THE ENGINE HAD SEIZED, PROBABLY AS A RESULT OF THE FIRE. THE CAR HAS SINCE BEEN TOWED TO OUR MECHANIC. THE CAR'S OWNER WAS INSIDE OF THE CAR, ATTEMPTING TO START IT VIA THE IGNITION KEY. I ASKED HER IF THERE WERE ANY PRIOR ISSUES WITH THE CAR, AND SHE TOLD ME THAT AT THE TIME, OTHER THAN A FLAT TIRE AND DEAD BATTERY, THE A/C WAS INOPERATIVE, AND NOT BEING USED. APPROXIMATELY 2-3 YEARS AGO, THE CAR WAS BROUGHT TO A LOCAL DEALER, AND A RECALL ISSUE WAS PERFORMED ON IT. SHE DID NOT REMEMBER WHAT SERVICE AND RECALL REPAIRS WERE DONE ON THE CAR. PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT, THE CAR HAD NOT BEEN OPERATED FOR APPROXIMATELY 2 WEEKS. I AM THE PERSON MOST ABLE TO GIVE THE DETAILS OF THE INCIDENT. THE OWNER OF THE CAR (SISTER) HAS AUTHORIZED ME TO ACT ON HER BEHALF IN THIS MATTER. *TR