GM Recalls Chevy Trailblazers, GMC Envoy Other SUVs Due to Fire Risk
General Motors has announced yet another recall, this time impacting roughly 185,000 Chevy Trailblazers, GMC Envoy and other mid-sized SUV’s after receiving 242 complaints of the driver side window switch circuit boards overheating, which may cause the vehicles to catch fire.
The General Motors SUV window switch recall (PDF) was announced by the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) on August 5, after the manufacturer acknowledged that fluid may enter the driver’s door master power window switch module, causing corrosion that could result in a short in the circuit board.
To date, GM and the NHTSA have received at least 28 reports of vehicles catching fire due to the problems. No injuries have been reported.
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Learn MoreThe recall includes the following SUV’s; 2006 and 2007 Chevrolet Trailblazer, 2006 Chevrolet Trailblazer EXT, 2006 and 2007 GMC Envoy, 2006 GMC Envoy XL, 2006 and 2007 Buick Rainer, 2006 and 2007 Isuzu Ascender, and 2005 through 2007 SAAB 9-7X models.
Aside from recalling the affected vehicles, GM is warning owners that the vehicles power window modules may short circuit, regardless of whether the vehicle is in use or parked and turned off. GM is asking owners not to park their vehicles in a garage and to leave them outside, away from things that could catch fire until the repair of the power window module is done.
In an incident report from 2008, a woman reported hearing her SUV’s alarm sounding while parked in her driveway. When she looked outside, the vehicle was in flames. Local firefighters had to put out the blaze and reported the fire began in the driver’s side door panel.
The SUV power window module issue first came to the NHTSA’s attention in early 2012 after the agency received multiple complaints of fires in the driver’s-door switches that control the power windows. When GM became aware of the issue they originally issued a “service campaign” on the SUV’s in 20 states and Washington D.C. where salt is used to clear the roads and the corrosion may be most prevalent. GM also believed that since there were a low number of incident reports that maybe the issue was limited to only those cold weather states.
The initial service campaign called for GM to apply a protective coating around the window switch circuit boards to protect from corrosion. This low cost fix did not prevent the corrosion and the NHTSA pressured GM into recalling roughly 278,000 vehicles in cold weather states and offering extended warranties to those in more mild to humid regions.
After continuing to receive consumer complaints relating to the circuit boards shorting, overheating and catching fire, GM realized the incidents were not isolated to cold weather states and that the protective covering was not a sufficient fix.
Spokesman for General Motors, Alan Adler, announced Thursday that General Motors is expanding the recall nationwide for the affected vehicles in all regions due to the protective covering over the modules not working. Adler stated GM plans to replace all of the switches in affected models.
GM Auto Recalls, Lawsuits Continue to Mount
GM has had a horrific year so far regarding auto recalls, reaching its 60th recall covering nearly 30 million vehicles. The company’s problems began in the early part of the year when the NHTSA’s investigation into 13 deaths of drivers whose air bags did not deploy was concluded to be from faulty ignition switches in roughly 2.6 million GM vehicles.
GM had reportedly known about the ignition switch issue for more than a decade before issuing the ignition switch recall, which prompted a $35 million fine from the NHTA for delaying a recall. In addition to the government fines and penalties the company has established a victims compensation fund created for owners and passengers who were injured or killed in those vehicles.
As of Monday, at least 89 victims have filed a claim against the GM victim’s compensation fund and that number is anticipated to be in the hundreds by the December 31, 2014 filing deadline.
A number of plaintiffs have pushed ahead with lawsuits against the company despite the creation of the fund, including claims by those who say they were economically damaged by the company’s actions, and those who were injured or lost loved ones in recalled vehicles not included in the compensation fund.
A growing number of GM recall lawsuits have been filed by those claiming economic damages from the faulty ignition switches.
In early June, the U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation issued an order consolidating all economic lawsuits against GM under U.S. District Judge Jesse M. Furman in federal court in New York for pretrial proceedings. The next scheduled conference is set for August 11, at which time Furman may select attorneys for leadership roles in the litigation.
Late last month, a product liability lawsuit was filed on behalf of families of 29 people who died in accidents linked to ignition switch defects, as well as for more than 600 people who were injured. All of the claims come from among the 17 million vehicles that GM has recalled for ignition switch problems, but for which it has refused to offer compensation.
Photo Courtesy of Mrs. FireMom via Flickr Creative Commons
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18 Comments
DavidDecember 14, 2022 at 4:25 pm
My 2003 GMC Envoy would send vehicle int Reduce Engine Power mode every time I would press and hold down power button. It finally caught on fire in my front yard and burned two other vehicles.
KelliJune 21, 2022 at 2:22 pm
I went out in the morning to find my 2008 chevy trailblazer had caught fire on the passenger front door panel, luckily I roll my windows up Everytime and it put itself out burned my seat and entire door. All melted.
PatriciaJune 5, 2022 at 4:22 pm
My 2007 Chevy Trailblazer's front passenger door panel just caught fire around 1 PM, 06/04/2022, in the parking lot of Lowes, while I was working. Very inconvenient to drive to work but have to find a ride home. Glad I wasn't driving when this happened.
RayJune 2, 2022 at 10:39 pm
My girlfriend car was driving fine we got it from a private owner then after a month or 2 we're pulling into home just making it home when we got out the car we noticed the car was flaming and started a fire from the bottom of the car we put the fire out nd called the firefighters but we could of died honestly a 2003 gmc envoy slt..like I don't understand what could of caused it I don't know if it[Show More]My girlfriend car was driving fine we got it from a private owner then after a month or 2 we're pulling into home just making it home when we got out the car we noticed the car was flaming and started a fire from the bottom of the car we put the fire out nd called the firefighters but we could of died honestly a 2003 gmc envoy slt..like I don't understand what could of caused it I don't know if it's safe to drive but now a days I have no transportation like it's hard..
CrystalMay 9, 2022 at 5:48 pm
My 2002 gmc envoy caught fire in passenger door...was parked and not in use for hours..you going to replace my vehicle gm motors? Ive got a lawyer
MicheleAugust 13, 2021 at 5:30 am
2002 chevy trailblazer one thing after another had fire on way to work beyond frustrated that such a well established company would ok for the purchase of a suv that starts on fire and has issues nonstop
DeborahJuly 1, 2021 at 7:22 pm
My 2002 Chevy Trailblazer burst into flames on the freeway in route to work this morning, July 1,2021. The driver side was more damaged than the passenger side. There was a loud noise from under the hood then the vehicle was engulfed in flames in seconds!
BrianApril 24, 2021 at 10:25 pm
Truck caught fire while I was driving with kids in back. We got out, it was totally engulfed in flames within a couple minutes.
KeilaApril 14, 2021 at 1:32 am
I have a 2004 chevy trailblazer. I hit a deer in the front and no air bags deployed. I have problems with the drivers door taking on water. Some corrosion. I also feel as though something is loose in my vehicle. Its hard to control on wet roads and ice and snow. Have no working gages on instrument cluster. All sorts of issues
ChenayMay 17, 2020 at 8:31 pm
My 2002 chevy trailblazer back seat floor caught fire
KimberlyAugust 16, 2019 at 11:09 pm
SUV burning April.2019 Have firer report Dettoit Mi
StephanieJune 6, 2017 at 7:00 pm
I have a 2004 Trailblazer and I'm just wondering if anyone else has had an issue with the back of the vehicle feeling way too loose. I've wrecked 3 separate times twice in the rain once in an inch of snow. That's not to mention all the times I didn't wreck but still lost control. My husband thought I was exaggerating until we were going down I75 and did 3 360 circles in the middle of the inters[Show More]I have a 2004 Trailblazer and I'm just wondering if anyone else has had an issue with the back of the vehicle feeling way too loose. I've wrecked 3 separate times twice in the rain once in an inch of snow. That's not to mention all the times I didn't wreck but still lost control. My husband thought I was exaggerating until we were going down I75 and did 3 360 circles in the middle of the interstate after that we parked it and it's been parked a couple of years now. I can't sell it bc I feel like it's too dangerous. I've got teenagers needing a car and I still won't let them or any of their friends buy it or just have it.
BeckyApril 27, 2017 at 6:53 pm
Gmc Envoy drivers side caught fire.
JustinAugust 11, 2016 at 8:37 pm
My 2004 Isuzu ascender caught fire at the passenger door control panel. Thankfully no one was injured, however my insurance will not cover the damaged caused to my vehicle.
EvangelinaJuly 1, 2016 at 7:38 am
My 08 trailblazer caught on fire today at the alternator I just replaced the alternator and battery because it was arching on the old alternator it caused tkhe bolt on the back of the alternator to fall off
RamonaJanuary 25, 2016 at 4:58 pm
My 2003 GMC envoy dash lights started blinking with my two sons in the back 8 an 2 lost power steering got off exist jumped out grabbed my boys flames everywhere truck blew up my 8 year old is autistic. an know terrified of cars.
jazzlynnOctober 13, 2015 at 4:03 pm
My husband passed away due to gmc envoy
LeslieJuly 16, 2015 at 12:58 am
I am having problems with my 2003 chevy trailblazer. I have noticed that many people have the same problem with their trailblazer. It seems like not enough power to use my heater during winter ory ac in the summer. Coils and spark plugs replaced, 4 and 5 did not make a difference. New battery, checked the alternator. Now check engine light flashing and car is misfiring.There should be a recall f[Show More]I am having problems with my 2003 chevy trailblazer. I have noticed that many people have the same problem with their trailblazer. It seems like not enough power to use my heater during winter ory ac in the summer. Coils and spark plugs replaced, 4 and 5 did not make a difference. New battery, checked the alternator. Now check engine light flashing and car is misfiring.There should be a recall for this problem. I have seen the same complaints over and over again while trying to find out what's wrong when I go online. Chevy needs to take responsibility for this!