Feds Investigate Fire Complaints In Chevy Tahoe, GMC Yukon

The government is investigating fire complaints in some popular sport utility vehicles. According to reports, the engines of the SUVs are catching fire. This is why they are under close federal scrutiny.

Vehicles reported include General Motor Corp.¡¯s full-size sport utilities - the 2007 Chevy Tahoe and 2007 GMC Yukon. The 2007 model year was the first for General Motors' re-engineered GMT900 large trucks and sport utilities, a family of vehicles that includes the Tahoe, the GMC Yukon, the Cadillac Escalade and the Chevrolet Silverado pickup among others. The 2007 model year hit the auto market early 2006.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said it has received two reports of fires involving 2007 model Chevy Tahoes. Both reports allege the vehicles were parked in a home garage with the engine off when the fires erupted, causing significant property damage, NBC News reported. The truck owners reported to NHTSA that both homes were badly damaged and two people were injured in one of the fires.

Reports say an estimated 423,000 sport utilities could be affected if the defect is known and a recall ordered. Engine fire incidents were not previously linked with Chevy S10 or other vehicles from General Motors. This is the reason why it is hard to detect, at this point, the cause of such allegations.

In an interview, Alan Adler, a spokesman for General Motors, said the company is cooperating with the government. "We didn't have anything on our radar. We didn't see anything on this one that suggests a pattern or trend," he said. "This was not something that was on our radar.¡±

Ford Motor Co. has recalled about ten million trucks, SUVs and vans following reports of fires while the vehicle was turned off and parked. The recalls made by the Dearborn automaker have involved a faulty cruise control switch system, Associated Press reported.

Adler stressed that General Motors vehicles do not use the same kind of cruise control switch so it is unclear what single cause, if any, could have caused the alleged Tahoe fires.

On its web site, NHTSA also reported that a preliminary investigation is under way of 2006 Lamborghini Gallardos following three reports of fires. There are 600 of the Gallardos cars on American roads.

About the Author

Anthony Fontanelle is a 35-year-old automotive buff who grew up in the Windy City. He does freelance work for an automotive magazine when he is not busy customizing cars in his shop.

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