NHTSA Complaint #10595863 — 2006 HUMMER H3

WAS TRAVELING THROUGH A PARKING LOT, NOTICED A GLOW FROM THE CORNER OF MY EYE, AND SOMETHING DRIP FROM UNDER THE PASSENGER GLOVEBOX. THERE WAS A FUNNY SMELL. I IMMEDIATELY STOPPED, AND TOLD MY PASSENGER TO GET OUT, AND NOTICED A FIRE UNDER THE PASSENGER GLOVEBOX. I TRIED POURING MILK AND JUICE ON THE FIRE TO PUT IT OUT UNDER THE DASH BUT IT DIDN'T PUT THE FIRE COMPLETELY OUT. BYSTANDERS HELPED WITH FIRE EXTINGUISHERS BUT IT DIDN'T HELP MUCH EITHER, THE FIRE MOVED THROUGH THE FIREWALL AND WAS UNDER THE HOOD. THE CAR QUICKLY WENT UP IN FLAMES AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED TO PUT OUT THE FIRE. ONCE THE FIRE STARTED, THE DOORS DIDN'T AUTOMATICALLY UNLOCK WHEN I SHUT OFF THE CAR. I WAS NOT ABLE TO GET THE BACK DOORS OPEN SINCE THERE IS NO KEY ENTRY AND IT'S ALL ELECTRONIC. IF I HAD CHILDREN OR PASSENGERS IN THE BACK SEAT WHEN THIS HAPPENED, I WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GET THEM OUT THROUGH THE BACK DOORS - THEY WOULD NOT OPEN. THE FIRE STARTED UNDER THE PASSENGER SIDE GLOVEBOX SEEMED TO BE RELATED TO THE RESISTOR AND WIRING HARNESS TIED TO THE A/C. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL, AND GM SHOULD RECOUP EVERYONE WHO HAS HAD A TOTAL LOSS RELATED TO THIS INCIDENT. I WILL NEVER BUY AMERICAN CAR AGAIN, THIS ONE WAS A MISTAKE SINCE I PURCHASED IT WITH CONSTANT ISSUES AND NOW THIS AT LESS THAN 100K MILES. UNBELIEVABLE! GM SHOULD BE ACCOUNTABLE FOR THESE INCIDENTS. *TR