NHTSA Complaint #761149 — 1997 CHEVROLET BLAZER

ON MARCH 25, 2002 MY 1997 CHEVY BLAZER SUSTAINED EXTENSIVE DAMAGES FROM AN INTERIOR FIRE. I CONTACTED MY INSURANCE COMPANY AND AN ADJUSTER ASSESSED THE DAMAGES AND REQUESTED A FIRE INSPECTOR EVALUATE THE VEHICLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE. THE FIRE INSPECTOR, RON CAMPBELL 541-276-7731, DETERMINED THAT THE FIRE STARTED IN THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR AS A RESULT OF AN ELECTRICAL FAILURE. I CONTACTED GENERAL MOTORS REGARDING THIS PROBLEM. THEY DID NOT RESPOND TO MY CONCERNS IN A TIMELY MANNER AND I FELT THAT I HAD NO RECOURSE BUT TO ACCEPT MY INSURANCE COMPANIES SETTLEMENT. MY INSURANCE COMPANY PAID "MARKET VALUE" ON THE VEHICLE, WHICH LEFT ME WITH A SUBSTANTIAL BALANE DUE ON MY VEHICLE. I NOT ONLY HAVE TO PAY-OFF THE REMAINDER OF THE BALANCE DUE ON THE VEHICLE, BUT I HAD TO PURCHASE A REPLACEMENT VEHICLE. WHEN I WAS FINALLY ABLE TO TALK WITH THE PERSON ASSIGNED TO MY CASE AT GENERAL MOTORS (MR. ROBERT ST. PIERRE), HIS REPONSE TO ME WAS "... YOU HAVE ALREADY RECEIVED A SETTLEMENT FROM YOUR INSURANCE COMPANY REGARDING THIS MATTER. THEREFORE, GENERAL MOTORS IS UNABLE TO ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR DAMAGES". I FIND THIS RESPONSE UNACCEPTABLE. THIS VEHICLE FAILED DUE TO FAULTY MANUFACTURING. I NOT ONLY FEEL THAT THEY HAVE A FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY TO ME TO COVER THE COSTS ABOVE AND BEYOND WHAT THE INSURANCE COMPANY COVERED, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY THEY HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO ALL OF THEIR CONSUMERS THAT OWN BLAZERS THAT MIGHT SUSTAIN SIMILAR DAMAGE.*AK