Complaint 1582400

Complaint Summary

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Owner Narrative

IN 2004 I PURCHASED A NEW CHEVY VAN. IN 2006 MY LIGHT SWITCH WIRING HARNESS MELTED TOGETHER AND I COULD NOT TURN MY LIGHTS OFF. I PAID TO GET THIS REPAIRED. IN 2008 THIS SAME VAN CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE I WAS DRIVING. I PARKED THE VAN, OPENED THE DOOR AND GOT OUT.SAFELY. THE VAN WAS A TOTAL LOSS BUT I WAS SAFE. IN 2017 I PURCHASED A 2016 GMC VAN. THIS VAN HAS A FEATURE THAT AUTOMATICALLY LOCKS MY DOORS. THE DOORS DO NOT ALWAYS UNLOCK WHEN I PARK THIS VAN. I CAN'T UNDERSTAND WHY I HAVE TO HAVE THIS FEATURE. I WAS ABLE TO EGRESS MY OLD VEHICLE THAT CAUGHT FIRE BUT I MIGHT NOT HAVE THE SAME LUCK WITH THIS AUTOMATION FEATURE THAT LOCKS MY DOORS AND THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT IS FILLING WITH SMOKE. I KEEP THINKING WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF YOUNG CHILDREN WERE IN CAR SEATS AND THE DOORS DID NOT UNLOCK. I THINK THAT THIS IS NOT ONLY A USELESS FEATURE BUT A DANGEROUS ONE. I SHOULD HAVE THE ABILITY TO TURN OFF THIS AUTO LOCK FEATURE JUST AS I CAN WITH THE PASSENGER AIR BAG.

Owner-submitted narrative on file with NHTSA. Complaint narratives are self-reported and have not been verified.