NHTSA Complaint #10692357 — 1999 BUICK PARK AVENUE

MY 1999 BUICK PARK AVENUE WAS PARKED UNDER OUR POLE BARN IN FRONT OF OUR HOME. MY NEIGHBOR CAME OVER TO BORROW MY CAR WITH MY PERMISSION. IT WAS COLD THAT DAY. SHE TURNED THE KEY. THE CAR BACKFIRE & THE HOOD JUMPED. THE CAR MADE A LOUD NOISE & SMOKE STARTED ROLLING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD OF MY CAR. SHE POPPED THE HOOD & GOT OUT OF THE CAR. BY THE TIME SHE GOT IN FRONT OF THE CAR FLAMES WERE SHOOTING OUT OF THE FRONT OF THE CAR. SHE CALLED THE PERU FIRE DEPARTMENT WHO CAME OUT & PULLED MY CAR OUT TO THE DRIVEWAY SAVING OUR HOUSE FROM BURNING TO THE GROUND. THE GOT THE CAR PUT OUT EVENTUALLY BUT IT IS DESTROYED. ENTIRE ENGINE COMPARTMENT IS BURNED OUT. PARTS OF THE INSIDE ARE MELTED. THE CAR IS A TOTAL LOSS. WE CONTACTED BUICK. THEY OFFERED US $1000. FOR A CAR WE WERE OFFERED $3000.00 FOR THAT SUMMER. THEY THEN DECIDED THEY DID NOT OWE US ANYTHING AS THE CAR ITSELF WAS OVER 10 YEARS OF AGE. THEY WILL NOT ANSWER CALLS NOR WILL THEY PAY FOR THE DAMAGES. WE CANNOT AFFORD AN ATTORNEY. *TR