NHTSA Complaint #10939133 — 2001 CHEVROLET IMPALA

ON DEC, 12, OUR 2001 IMPALA WAS SITTING IN THE DRIVEWAY. IT HAD NOT BEEN DRIVEN FOR A FEW DAYS AND SINCE THE WEATHER WAS COLD, MY HUSBAND WANTED TO MAKE SURE IT WOULD START. WHEN HE TURNED THE KEY, THERE WAS AN EXPLOSION IN THE INJECTOR SYSTEM. FLAMES SHOT OUT AND THE SYSTEM WAS BLOWN APART. FORTUNATELY, THE CAR WAS NOT IN OUR GARAGE AT THE TIME AND HE WAS NOT INJURED. WE CALLED VERMILION CHEVROLET IN DANVILLE, ILLINOIS AND THE PERSON WHO ANSWERED SAID IT WAS A DEFECTIVE FUEL REGULATOR THAT HAD CAUSED THE PROBLEM. HE SEEMED TO BE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. WE HAD RECENTLY RECEIVED A RECALL FOR POSSIBLE UNDER THE HOOD FIRES, BUT HE TOLD US THAT WAS FOR A LEAKY VALVE COVER GASKET, NOT THE FUEL REGULATOR. WE HAVE COMPREHENSIVE INSURANCE, BUT THEY ARE BALKING AT COVERING THE DAMAGE. WE HAVE NOT HAD ANY ESTIMATES ON GETTING IT REPAIRED YET. WE ARE STILL WAITING ON THE INSURANCE. MEANWHILE WE HAVE A CAR WE CANNOT DRIVE. WE DID SOME RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET AND IT APPEARS THAT THIS IS A KNOWN DEFECT, BUT THAT THE 2001 MODELS WERE NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALL. WHY NOT? HELP!!