NHTSA Complaint #10585341 — 2011 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE

WE CAME TO A BRIEF STOP AT A DRIVE THROUGH LANE (APPROX. 5-10 SECONDS), HARD CRANK OF THE WHEEL LEFT, MILD ACCELERATION, TRAVELED ABOUT 15 FEET, CRANK TO RIGHT, PULL INTO A PARKING SPOT. IMMEDIATELY PRIOR TO THE VEHICLE COMING TO A STOP, I NOTICED THICK WHITE SMOKE EMANATING FROM THE EDGES OF THE HOOD, AND WHEN THE CAR CAME TO A STOP I ORDERED EVERYONE TO GET OUT. BLACK SMOKE STARTED AS WE EXITED THE VEHICLE. I HAD THE FIRE OUT QUICKLY, ESTIMATE 45-60 SECONDS FROM SEEING SMOKE UNTIL THE FIRE WAS COMPLETELY EXTINGUISHED WITH A CHEMICAL EXTINGUISHER. IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE FIRE WAS OUT, WHEN I WAS CHECKING THE UNDERCARRIAGE, I NOTICED A TRAIL OF OIL LEADING UP A COUPLE OF FEET FROM THE FINAL RESTING PLACE OF THE VEHICLE. THIS WAS OBSCURED BY ADDITIONAL OIL LEAKING, SHORTLY THEREAFTER. *JS