NHTSA Complaint #10573287 — 2000 CHEVROLET IMPALA

ON 1/8/14 AT APPROX. 8:00 AM, I ATTEMPTED TO START MY CAR, I HEARD A LOUD POP OR BANG AND SMELLED SMOKE, I QUICKLY GOT OUT OF THE CAR AND NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE HOOD. I POPPED THE HOOD AND LUCKILY MY NEIGHBOR AND BOYFRIEND HAD COME OUTSIDE AT THIS POINT AND PUT THE "FIRE" THAT HAD STARTED UNDER THE HOOD, OUT WITH SNOW. BASICALLY, I ATTEMPTED TO CRANK THE CAR, THERE WAS AN EXPLOSION FROM THE INTAKE MANIFOLD DURING THE CRANKING, RESULTING IN AN EXPLOSION AND SMALL FIRE. I CONTACTED GM DIRECTLY ASKING IF THERE WAS A POSSIBLE RECALL THAT WAS SIMILAR TO THE SITUATION THAT HAD OCCURRED. AFTER A SHORT INVESTIGATION, THE CLAIMS REPRESENTATIVE DENIED MY CLAIM STATING THAT MY CAR WAS PROBABLY JUST OLD. IT WAS NOT UNTIL I HEARD ABOUT THE COBALT RECALLS, DID I DECIDE TO DO MORE INVESTIGATIONS. *TR