Safety Research Report Examines Car Fires, Investigations - 2012-04-11

Boston-based Safety Research & Strategies, Inc., has issued a report on how some manufacturers are investigated for door fires in cars, while others are not.

The report analyzes how fuel-fed fires in automobiles can lead to safety investigations regarding some manufacturers, while not in others (in this article's case, Subaru).

"It only took another handful of similar complaints to launch two investigations last month into electrically-based door panel fires afflicting 2006-2007 Chevy Trailblazers and 2007 RAV4 and Camry vehicles," the report states. "NHTSA’s Office of Defect Investigations opened Preliminary Evaluations on February 6 and 9. The agency is investigating Toyota door fires on the strength of six EWR reports; ODI had 12 consumer complaints and an unidentified number of EWR field reports about Trailblazers. According to news reports, NHTSA is looking at the possibility that GM and Toyota share a window supplier."

SRS has requested NHTSA investigate Subaru door fires. You can read the SRS' letter to NHTSA Administrator David Strickland here.