NHTSA Complaint #10639689 — 2003 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER

I WAS DRIVING IN THE LEFT LANE ON INTERSTATE HIGHWAY 290 (YOUNGMAN HIGHWAY) AT ABOUT 65 M.P.H. WHEN SMOKE BEGAN WAFTING FROM THE AREA WHERE THE STEERING COLUMN MEETS THE DASHBOARD. I TOOK IMMEDIATE EVASIVE ACTION, PULLED ONTO AND OFF THE SHOULDER ONTO THE GRASS, SHUT THE ENGINE OFF, RAN TO THE BARRIER FENCE AND WATCHED TO SEE IF VEHICLE WAS GOING TO BURST INTO FLAMES. AFTER CALLING AAA, ABOUT TEN MINUTES HAD ELAPSED WITHOUT FURTHER SMOKE SO I ASSUMED I COULD DRIVE TO THE NEXT EXIT RAMP AT COLVIN BLVD. (ABOUT 1,000 FEET AWAY) AND OFF TO A WENDY'S PARKING LOT WHERE I WAITED FOR A AAA FLATBED TRUCK. MY SUV WAS FLATBED TOWED TO MY DEALERSHIP, FUCCILLO CHEVROLET ON GRAND ISLAND, WHERE THE PROBLEM WAS DIAGNOSED AS A FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH, CODE NUMBER C0379. TOTAL COST OF REPAIR WAS$222.66. IT WOULD BE NICE TO BE REIMBURSED FOR THIS EXPENSE. THOUGH NO VISIBLE FIRE WAS OBSERVED, THE SMOKE WAS A CLEAR SIGN OF PROBLEM THAT WAS SO HOT IT CAUSED OXIDATION OF MATERIAL INTO VISIBLE SMOKE. *TR