NHTSA investigating fires in Cruze, Wrangler

DETROIT — The government said Sunday it is investigating reports of engine fires in the Chevrolet Cruze small car and Jeep Wrangler SUV.

The fires haven't caused any injuries but have destroyed at least six vehicles. NHTSA is investigating the 2011 model year Cruze and the 2010 model year Wrangler.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has received two reports of fires in the 2011 Cruze. In both cases, owners reported that the fires began while the cars were moving, and in both cases the cars were destroyed.

According to complaints filed on NHTSA's Web site, a driver with a 2011 Cruze Eco was 30 miles into a 43-mile trip last month when smoke started coming out from under the hood. As soon as the driver stopped, flames began shooting out from the car.

"The car was totally engulfed within five minutes of stopping, and it was only after the first sign of fire was visible that the warning light on the dashboard illuminated," the driver told NHTSA. NHTSA doesn't post drivers' identifications on its site.

General Motors Co. spokesman Alan Adler says the company knows of no deaths or injuries related to the issue. GM is cooperating with the investigation. The company sold approximately 177,000 Chevrolet Cruzes from the 2011 model year.

NHTSA also has received eight reports of fires in 2010 model year Wranglers. Most began when the vehicles were moving, and four owners reported that their vehicles were destroyed.

The owner of a 2010 Wrangler told NHTSA that the vehicle was parked and running when it suddenly turned off. The owner was attempting to restart the vehicle when someone outside the vehicle began yelling that it was on fire.

"Once out of the Jeep I looked under it and saw and unknown liquid burning down to the ground from the engine area. I attempted to extinguish the fire with water but I was unsuccessful. Within minutes it was a total loss," the owner said, according to NHTSA's documents.

Chrysler Group spokesman Nick Cappa says the company is aware of the incidents but knows of no accidents or injuries related to the issue. Chrysler is cooperating with the investigation. The company sold 131,000 Wranglers from the 2010 model year.

Cappa said that vehicle fires are complex and can happen for various reasons, including some that have nothing to do with the vehicle itself. Poor maintenance, improper vehicle use or the installation of aftermarket equipment can all cause fires, he said.

"The 2010 Jeep Wrangler meets or exceeds all applicable federal safety standards and has an excellent safety record," Chrysler said in a statement.

NHTSA investigations can lead to vehicle recalls.

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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US door fires in 2006-2007 TrailBlazer probes

DETROIT - Federal safety regulators investigate fires in side doors of the driver of the Chevy TrailBlazer, the second probe in a week.

The latest study includes more than 309,000 TrailBlazer SUVs from model years 2006 and 2007. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which started fires in the window switch or similar electrical parts, said Monday.

The Agency opened the first probe last week similar problems with the 2007 Toyota Camry sedan and RAV4 small crossover SUV. The TrailBlazer investigation began Thursday.

All three vehicles under investigation are very popular. No one has called back were.

Still, the TrailBlazer was in the United States in 2009 expire under GM top sellers. The Camry was the best-selling car in the United States in 2007 and last year.

The Agency has 12 smoke or fire in TrailBlazer complaints. No injuries reported fire, destroyed the SUV maker, says General Motors co. None of the vehicles, which began was, although some parts door melted and members were scorched, says the automaker.

Several of the TrailBlazer fires happen while the SUVs were moved. Others occurred, as the machines were out and the vehicles were unattended.

In a lawsuit filed with NHTSA, by 29 October 2008, a woman reported that the alert is triggered, while 2006 TrailBlazer was parked it in their driveway. If she looked outside, she saw the SUV burst into flames. Firefighters put out the fire and told her that it started in the driver's door.

"The fire burned the entire driver's side of the vehicle, part of the passenger seat and the roof," she wrote.

GM believes that the condition on the model years is limited in 2006 and 2007. This is the change because of the parts model year 2006, which lasted until the end of 2007 model, spokesman Alan says Adler.

A NHTSA spokeswoman said that the Agency is in the process to find out who, when GM and Toyota Motor Corp. have switch from the same parts manufacturers, and they had other vehicles.

Neither GM nor Toyota would identify supply companies its parts because the investigation under way is.

Three other GM vehicles built on the same chassis as the pioneer have the same window power button, but no fires have been reported in the Buick Ranier, GMC Envoy, and Saab 9-X, Adler said. Other different door configurations as pioneer have, he said.

Every TrailBlazer owner, burning smells plastic or whose Windows no longer work, it should be said your dealer contact.

The TrailBlazer helped in the early 2000s in the United States to make popular truck-based SUVs. The SUV was replaced traverse, the more efficient Chevrolet more, that is built on a car chassis. GM sold 309.423 trailblazer in 2006 and 2007.

Six Camry and RAV4 fires have been reported to NHTSA, but there were no reports of injuries. Most of the fires were limited to minor damage to the doors, but a Camry was in a case, depending on the conditions that destroyed with NHTSA.

The Toyota study includes more than 830,000 vehicles.

GM and Toyota said they are together in the investigation with NHTSA.

GM fell share to close 17 cents to $25.33. Toyota shares rose 52 cents to $78.91 to close.

Copyright 2012 of the associated press. All rights reserved. This material cannot be published, sent, rewritten or redistributed.

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RAV4s reviewed Toyota Camry, of house fires

CNBC's Phil LeBeau has the details on regulators opened a probe of 840 K Toyota Camry and Rav 4 s.

DETROIT - U.S. safety regulators have a preliminary investigation of consumer complaints the driver side door fires in 2007 model year Toyota Camry sedan and RAV4 crossover SUV opened.

The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said that an estimated 830,000 vehicles could be affected. This checkpoint is less than a recall but one can lead to.

Six consumers complained, NHTSA said in a filing that shows that the investigation was opened this week.

"On the basis of the information available, it seems that the fire from the window master switch is originating are on the side of the driver's door," the submission says.

Toyota said that it expects more information from the NHTSA before answering the authority.

"Toyota received the preliminary assessment opening resume for 2007 RAV4 and Camry on 7 February." However, we have received no request for information from the NHTSA. Toyota to investigate these claims will cooperate fully with the Agency in their efforts, ", said the company in an e-Mail statement.

In another callback news
Nissan is almost 37,000 conversely small cars with transmissions in the United States reminds, because she potentially could be shifted from Park, without the brake pedal, depressing filed for documents with NHTSA.

NHTSA said that 36.608 Versas model year 2012 may experience interference between the gear lever bar and shift knob with automatic transmission. That cause that without reinforcement panels on the brake pedal, the driver to shift the vehicle inadvertently increases the risk of an accident according to NHTSA documents.

Nissan said in November 2011 during a vehicle inspection, dealer the problem notify owners and replace the shifter button or lever Assembly as necessary, said NHTSA. The recall is expected to begin on 20 February.

A Nissan official said that no accidents or injuries on this issue signed.

Copyright 2011 Thomson Reuters.

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Battery fires prompt govt probe of Chevy Volt

WASHINGTON — New fires involving the lithium-ion batteries in General Motors Co.'s Chevrolet Volt have prompted an investigation to assess the risk of fire in the electric car after a serious crash, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said Friday.

One Volt battery pack that was being closely monitored following a government crash test caught fire Thursday, the safety administration said in a statement. Another recently crash-tested battery emitted smoke and sparks, the statement said.

GM, which was informed of the investigation on Friday, said in a statement that the Volt "is safe and does not present undue risk as part of normal operation or immediately after a severe crash."

The latest fires are in addition to a battery fire in a crash-tested Volt six months ago.

NHTSA learned of a possible fire risk involving damaged Volt batteries when a fire erupted in a Volt that was being stored in a parking lot of a test facility in Burlington, Wis. The fire was severe enough to cause several other vehicles parked nearby to catch fire as well.

The car had been subjected to a side-impact crash test more than three weeks earlier, on May 12, during which the battery was punctured and its coolant line ruptured.

Last week's tests of three battery packs were designed to replicate the May test. In that test, the Volt was subjected to a simulated side-impact collision into a narrow object like a tree or pole followed by a rollover, the agency said.

The first battery tested last week didn't catch fire. But a battery test on Nov. 17 initially experienced a temporary temperature increase, and on Thursday caught fire while being monitored. Another battery tested on Nov. 18, which was rotated 180 degrees within hours after the test, began to smoke and emit sparks shortly after the rotation.

The tests were conducted by NHTSA and the Energy and Defense departments at a defense facility near Hampton Roads, Va.

So far, no fires have been reported in Volts involved in roadway crashes, NHTSA said. More than 5,000 of the vehicles have been sold.

It's too soon to tell whether the investigation will lead to a recall of any vehicles or parts, but the government will ensure consumers are informed promptly if that occurs, the agency said.

With its OnStar safety communications systems a part of the car, "GM knows real time about any crash significant enough to potentially compromise battery integrity," the automaker said. "Since July, GM has implemented a post-crash protocol that includes the depowering of the battery after a severe crash, returning the battery to a safe and low-powered state."

Electric vehicles are critical to President Barack Obama's plans to reduce U.S. dependence on foreign oil. He has called for putting 1 million of the vehicles on the road by 2015.

The Volt and Nissan's Leaf, with more than 8,000 cars on the road in the U.S., are among the first mass-marketed plug-in electric cars. They went on sale in the 2011 model year. Other automakers are also working on electric vehicles.

Safety testing hasn't raised concerns about electric vehicles other than the Volt, NHTSA said. But the agency is asking manufacturers who have electric cars on the market, or who plan to introduce electric vehicles in the near future, for more detailed information on their battery testing as well as what procedures they have established for discharging and handling batteries, including recommendations for reducing fire risks.

"NHTSA continues to believe that electric vehicles have incredible potential to save consumers money at the pump, help protect the environment, create jobs and strengthen national security by reducing our dependence on oil," the agency said.

After the first battery fire, GM officials complained that NHTSA did not drain the battery of energy as called for under the automaker's crash procedures. NHTSA normally drains fuel from gasoline-powered cars after crash tests, they said.

Lithium-ion batteries, which are rechargeable, have been the subject of several recalls of consumer electronics. Millions of laptop batteries made by Sony Corp. for Apple Inc., Dell Inc., Lenovo Group Ltd. and other PC makers were recalled in 2006 and 2007 after it was discovered that they could overheat and ignite.

The Federal Aviation Administration issued a warning to airlines about the potential for fires in cargo containing lithium-ion and non-rechargeable lithium metal batteries after a United Parcel Service plane crashed near Dubai last year, killing both pilots. The plane, which was on fire, was carrying thousands of lithium batteries.

Incorrectly packaged, damaged or overheated batteries can catch fire, the FAA said. Fires involving lithium-ion batteries can reach 1,100 degrees, close to the melting point of aluminum, a key material in airplane construction. Lithium-metal battery fires are far hotter, capable of reaching 4,000 degrees.

GM and NHTSA have pointed out that cars with gasoline-powered engines are susceptible to fires after a crash.

In the event of a crash, NHTSA's advice to consumers is to do the same thing they would do in a gasoline-powered car — get out of the vehicle and move a safe distance away. The agency also recommends against storing a severely damaged electric car in a garage or near other vehicles.

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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