Having a car that looks hot is one thing, but one that feels hot because its engine is on fire is another. The National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration is looking into reports that the 2011 Chevrolet Cruze and 2010 Jeep Wrangler are suffering engine fires. The investigations could possibly lead to recalls, but there’s no action on that front as of yet. Both Chevy and Jeep say there have been no reports of injuries or deaths due to possible defects.
According to the AP, two Cruze owners reported car-totalling fires. Eight Wrangler owners reported engine fires, four of which destroyed the cars.
Both companies are cooperating with the investigations. If you’ve suffered problems with either vehicle, contact the NHTSA.
NHTSA investigating fires in Cruze, Wrangler [AP via MSNBC]
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Engine fire? It’s a ‘feature’…
The new ‘all-encompassing heat’ feature for those long Minnesota Winters.
Ahhh Minnesota winter, the most enchanting 9 months of the year (this year excluded).
Ony if you’re GM.
“NHTSA Investigates Engine Fire Reports In Pair Of SUVs”
When did the Cruze become an SUV? Last I saw, it was a compact car.
It’s sort of stationwagon-looking, but that’s about as close to SUV as its gonna get.
Station wagon looking? http://www.chevrolet.com/cruze-compact-car/
You need some glasses; even the Chevy Cruze hatchback GM sells elsewhere in the world doesn’t look even a bit SUVish. And they only sell the sedan version in the US.
Enh, every car looks alike to me these days anyway.
Lay off I haven’t had my coffee yet. ~_~;
To be fair you are typically far too inebriated to judge size.
Headline FAIL. The first line of the linked article is “The government said Sunday it is investigating reports of engine fires in the Chevrolet Cruze small car and Jeep Wrangler SUV” (emphasis mine).
It is called “great reporting”. Or re-reporting in this case.
Hey, Ralph Nader: thanks for nothing.
Take the number of vehicles in the field, A, multiply by the probable rate of failure, B, multiply by the average out-of-court settlement, C. A times B times C equals X. If X is less than the cost of a recall, we don’t do one.
Course, now all I can think is the words “Cars on Fire” to the tune of Hearts on Fire…
Rocky IV soundtrack FTW
Cue “Training Montage” by Vince DiCola.
Um, I have a Cruze, it is the gasoline powered Volt platform. Not an SUV.
Volt platform? No wonder it catches fire.
Republican: “Government Motors at work, folks!”
Surprising they don’t try for a two-fer and suggest abolishing NHTSA too.
Don’t you find it odd that the Obama administration and Congressional Democrats aren’t exploiting this the way they did the Toyota accelerator issue?
Why do you suppose that would be?
I *DO* want to encourage people to report any legit safety issues they have with their car to NHTSA. I’ve spoken with them several times about issues I’ve had with cars and they’re quite pleasant actually. Even better, those calls turned into recalls, which saved me approx $5k in repairs I’d otherwise have to pay…and helped other drivers with the same cars who may not have been aware there was even a safety issue.
Their investigation process is quite long, but eventually they do come to conclusions and go with it.
what is up with these new cars catching fire? The chevy volt, with documented spontaneous combustion issues, has now been discontinued. Now we learn the chevy cruze and chrysler jeep have fire issues. this is a hot issue. maybe the nhtsa can start requiring fire suppression systems for all vehicles beginning in 2018.