NHTSA Complaint #11082011 — 2007 CHEVROLET EXPRESS

ELECTRIC WINDOW/MIRROR CONTROL PANEL AFFIXED TO THE INTERIOR OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR. ELECTRICAL THERMAL EVENT CAUSING SMOKE AND PHYSICAL DAMAGE TO THE INTERIOR SIDE OF THE DOOR AND ELECTRICAL CONTROL CLUSTER AND WIRING. VEHICLE WAS IN USE BUT WAS NOT IN MOTION AND OFF ROADWAY. CONTROL PANEL AFTERMARKET INSTALLATION PRIOR TO PURCHASE. NO PREVIOUS MAINTENANCE/REPAIR WORK PERFORMED ON DOOR OR DOOR CONTROL PANEL. PRIOR TO THE EVENT, RAIN WATER WAS OBSERVED DRIPPING ON TO THE CONTROL PANEL FROM THE ROOF WHICH OVERHANGS THE DOOR WHEN THE DOOR WAS IN THE OPEN POSITION. WE'VE EXPERIENCED WITH OTHER SIMILAR MAKE/MODEL SCHOOL BUSES ELECTRICAL SHORTS IN THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR CONTROL PANEL, WHICH DID NOT RESULT IN A 'THERMAL EVENT" NOR FIRE AS EXPERIENCED ON 3/27/18, BUT DID REQUIRE REPAIRS.