The contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Impala. The vehicle caught fire in the dashboard area and then spread to the hood. The fire occurred two to three months after the vehicle was purchased. A relative sustained injuries to the hand due to the fire. The cause of the failure was electrical. There is no fire or police report. The vehicle was repaired, but the contact does not know the specifics of the repair work. Three months after the repairs were completed, the check engine light illuminated and the vehicle began vibrating when the brakes were depressed. This failure occurred while driving 20 mph or more. The brakes and the disc were replaced and aligned. The failure continued to occur and the brakes were replaced within a month. The mechanic stated that the disc failed which caused the brakes to fail. The contact detects the smell of fuel within the vehicle. The fuel gauge has failed to operate normally since the repairs were performed. The fuel gauge indicated that the fuel level was full; however, the engine shut off and there was no fuel in the vehicle. There was also the presence of fuel on the ground after adding fuel to the vehicle. The dealer has not diagnosed the cause of the fuel gage failure or the odor. The inspector stated that the vehicle may not pass inspection due to the fuel odor in the interior. Although the brakes were repaired twice, the vibration continued to occur. The engine size was unknown. The contact can provide receipts for all of the repairs that were performed, including an insurance report. There is no fire or police report. The current mileage is 81,000 and failure mileage was 45,000. Updated 08/15/07.

- Cypress , TX, USA

On Oct 6th 2005, while driving the department issued 2004 Chevrolet Impala, police patrol squad car, I noticed a unfamiluar very strong foul odor when I would turn on the heater. Unknown to me at the time, but after I sufferred initially an inhalation injury which nearly killed me by sufficating me causing my blood pressure to escalate thereby causing me to suffer duel anyursm' of the upper thoracic vein and the abdominal vein. I was flown via flight-for-life helicopter to a trauma center, hospitalized in intensive care, left incapacited me for four months and without an income. I am now left with internal scar tissue on my aorta vein. My police supervisor visited me in intensive care in the hospital and informed me that the mechanic from the dealership which services our fleet of leased vehicle, inspection results indicated that the electrical system was overcharging the battery and as a result the battery began to overheat giving off battery acid fumes which explained the foul odor.

- Great Lakes, IL, USA

I was driving to school, I went to pushing my cigarette lighter and when I did I noticed that there was an odd smell coming from the car, then I noticed smoke coming from under the console where you put the car in gear, then I had to pull over the car because there was so much smoke that I couldn't see and I could hear a crackling sizzling noise, so I pulled at the piece that covers up the gears and seen that the wires where burning it looked as if where the spring that light dynamite or something so I did the only thing I could do I poured my soda on the wires because I was scared the car might have blown up with me and my 10 mo. Old boy and 3 year old girl right there.

- Fresno, CA, USA

2004 Impala headlights go out while driving. The dealer replaced the body control module. The consumer requested reimbursement from the manufacturer.

- Iron River, WI, USA