Corvette on Fire: Family wins Lawsuit Against GM
04-09-2012, 08:08 PM
#21
Cruising
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Also, is there a recall for 2005 Corvettes with telescoping steering wheel problems?
It seems there must be something to it, if it was *ahem* (cor)vetted out in court.
With GM appealing, this case will linger on for some years to come.
Does anyone have a schematic for the fuel line routing on a C6?
- Divya Nanjappa
Last edited by firewallx; 04-09-2012 at 08:09 PM. Reason: additional thoughts
04-09-2012, 10:51 PM
#24
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Article seems to only have one side to the story. Owners claim defective telescoping steering caused the fire.
"When the car melted down, the gas rolled out of the garage and caught the outside of the home on fire; that was the first clue that it was the car, he said."
What, the gas leaked out of the garage and caught the home on fire????? If the car was on fire then the gas would not leak outside, it would catch on fire quickly. Sounds like quite a stretch. About as far fetched as saying all the hardwired smoke alarms didn't work. First thing I thought was the GM lawyers would argue that the owners were underwater on a big, expensive home and burned it to the ground to collect the insurance.
I don't know the owners and would never accuse them of anything based on the limited facts presented. I feel sorry for their loss and thank god no one was hurt. However, when talking millions of dollars it usally ends up that the insurance company is looking to sue someone for the payout they would have to make. You have to take everything you read with a grain of salt, especially if only one side is talking.
"When the car melted down, the gas rolled out of the garage and caught the outside of the home on fire; that was the first clue that it was the car, he said."
What, the gas leaked out of the garage and caught the home on fire????? If the car was on fire then the gas would not leak outside, it would catch on fire quickly. Sounds like quite a stretch. About as far fetched as saying all the hardwired smoke alarms didn't work. First thing I thought was the GM lawyers would argue that the owners were underwater on a big, expensive home and burned it to the ground to collect the insurance.
I don't know the owners and would never accuse them of anything based on the limited facts presented. I feel sorry for their loss and thank god no one was hurt. However, when talking millions of dollars it usally ends up that the insurance company is looking to sue someone for the payout they would have to make. You have to take everything you read with a grain of salt, especially if only one side is talking.
GM lost the case!!! Now the other side of the story. How long have you worked for GM
04-09-2012, 11:30 PM
#25
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I smell BS all throughout this story. If there was a potential problem with the C5 Corvette and its fuel lines or steering column, others would have had the same experience. Like others have said...gasoline was found trailing outside the house and caught the outside of the home on fire. That doesn't make sense either. IMO, it's a scam.
04-10-2012, 12:18 AM
#26
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Awarded by a California court....it all makes sense now.
Pocket change....record profits?? Any positive number after bankruptcy would be a record. GM borrows from Peter to pay Paul and they proclaimed (albeit shortly) their debt to the taxpayers is repaid. It's BS. GM is in deeeeep debt.
If only one side is talking or if the network news is doctoring the facts. 
I'd like to know how the telescoping steering wheel is responsible for causing the fire. A lot of details missing but it all sounds fishy to me.
I'd like to know how the telescoping steering wheel is responsible for causing the fire. A lot of details missing but it all sounds fishy to me.
04-10-2012, 12:47 AM
#27
Drifting
Awarded by a California court....it all makes sense now.
Pocket change....record profits?? Any positive number after bankruptcy would be a record. GM borrows from Peter to pay Paul and they proclaimed (albeit shortly) their debt to the taxpayers is repaid. It's BS. GM is in deeeeep debt.
If only one side is talking or if the network news is doctoring the facts.
I'd like to know how the telescoping steering wheel is responsible for causing the fire. A lot of details missing but it all sounds fishy to me.
Pocket change....record profits?? Any positive number after bankruptcy would be a record. GM borrows from Peter to pay Paul and they proclaimed (albeit shortly) their debt to the taxpayers is repaid. It's BS. GM is in deeeeep debt.
If only one side is talking or if the network news is doctoring the facts.
I'd like to know how the telescoping steering wheel is responsible for causing the fire. A lot of details missing but it all sounds fishy to me.I'll def agree on the media doctoring the facts they love to make GM look bad every chance they get. I bet if it was Toyota it would be very hush hush.
04-10-2012, 01:20 AM
#28
Le Mans Master
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Even if the homeowner's policy paid out a claim, they would subrogate against GM to collect the funds. Then there's damage for negligence which insurance doesn't cover.
What I'm always puzzled about in these cases is they're tried in front of a jury unless they're settled first. I'd like to think that a jury can smell BS as well as any other 12 people.
What I'm always puzzled about in these cases is they're tried in front of a jury unless they're settled first. I'd like to think that a jury can smell BS as well as any other 12 people.
04-10-2012, 12:19 PM
#30
Had a friend who got married and bought a house at the bottom of a hill. They went on their honeymoon and got a call that a gravel truck lost its breaks and went through (all the way) their house. only took them 6 years to get compensated.
04-10-2012, 12:23 PM
#31
Wow that is crazy
Ive been in contact with chevy customer service (on here) over my fuel leak problems (I can actually see where fuel has leaked down the sides of the driver side tank). Seeing how this ended, Im praying that theyll end up covering it. My garage is detached, but the idea that any car would catch fire is very scary!
Ive been in contact with chevy customer service (on here) over my fuel leak problems (I can actually see where fuel has leaked down the sides of the driver side tank). Seeing how this ended, Im praying that theyll end up covering it. My garage is detached, but the idea that any car would catch fire is very scary!
04-10-2012, 01:23 PM
#32
Le Mans Master
Hey now. Don't be a jeleous hater just because your landlocked neighbors pay thousands of $$ a week to vacation in my neighborhood. Believe me, we could use a break from all the pasty overweight tourists that invade our beach every spring/summer. 
Last edited by DSOMC6; 04-10-2012 at 01:28 PM.
04-10-2012, 01:52 PM
#33
Drifting
Article seems to only have one side to the story. Owners claim defective telescoping steering caused the fire.
"When the car melted down, the gas rolled out of the garage and caught the outside of the home on fire; that was the first clue that it was the car, he said."
What, the gas leaked out of the garage and caught the home on fire????? If the car was on fire then the gas would not leak outside, it would catch on fire quickly. Sounds like quite a stretch. About as far fetched as saying all the hardwired smoke alarms didn't work. First thing I thought was the GM lawyers would argue that the owners were underwater on a big, expensive home and burned it to the ground to collect the insurance.
"When the car melted down, the gas rolled out of the garage and caught the outside of the home on fire; that was the first clue that it was the car, he said."
What, the gas leaked out of the garage and caught the home on fire????? If the car was on fire then the gas would not leak outside, it would catch on fire quickly. Sounds like quite a stretch. About as far fetched as saying all the hardwired smoke alarms didn't work. First thing I thought was the GM lawyers would argue that the owners were underwater on a big, expensive home and burned it to the ground to collect the insurance.
From Fire Engineering:
"Changes in the design and construction of automobiles demand a change in the way fire departments fight car fires. New car materials and components have resulted in improved performance, increased fuel economy, better crash resistance, and reduced exhaust emissions. Unfortunately, some of these same materials and components make fighting a fire in a modern automobile more difficult and dangerous than with older cars. Let`s examine how changes in automobiles over the past 20 years have necessitated a more cautious strategy, less-aggressive tactics, and a higher level of personal protection.
When the fuel tank is heated by flames, the gasoline begins to vaporize and increase the pressure within the tank and fuel lines. Excessive pressure can cause a sudden, catastrophic failure of the fuel tank, usually along a seam, spilling several gallons of gasoline at firefighters` feet. Whether a bursting fuel tank can technically be called an explosion is purely a theoretical discussion. As a practical matter, it can cause a sudden, rapid intensification of an auto fire and engulf firefighters in a pool of burning gasoline. Another problem that results from a pressurized fuel system occurs when gasoline liquid or vapor under pressure escapes from an opening in the tank or a fuel line connection and burns in a blowing, three-dimensional fire."
04-10-2012, 02:25 PM
#34
Pro
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St. Jude Donor '09-'11
I don't see how a complaint that the telescoping wheel wasn't working right leads to that the car was the cause of the house going up. There's no details given, it sounds pretty sketchy the way it's presented.
04-10-2012, 03:57 PM
#35
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I wasn't there and don't know what happened. However, you don't know what you are talking about. A ruptured tank can easily spill enough burning gasoline to cause the damage described by the home owner. You really think all of the gasoline is consumed immediately after catching fire?
From Fire Engineering:
"Changes in the design and construction of automobiles demand a change in the way fire departments fight car fires. New car materials and components have resulted in improved performance, increased fuel economy, better crash resistance, and reduced exhaust emissions. Unfortunately, some of these same materials and components make fighting a fire in a modern automobile more difficult and dangerous than with older cars. Let`s examine how changes in automobiles over the past 20 years have necessitated a more cautious strategy, less-aggressive tactics, and a higher level of personal protection.
When the fuel tank is heated by flames, the gasoline begins to vaporize and increase the pressure within the tank and fuel lines. Excessive pressure can cause a sudden, catastrophic failure of the fuel tank, usually along a seam, spilling several gallons of gasoline at firefighters` feet. Whether a bursting fuel tank can technically be called an explosion is purely a theoretical discussion. As a practical matter, it can cause a sudden, rapid intensification of an auto fire and engulf firefighters in a pool of burning gasoline. Another problem that results from a pressurized fuel system occurs when gasoline liquid or vapor under pressure escapes from an opening in the tank or a fuel line connection and burns in a blowing, three-dimensional fire."
From Fire Engineering:
"Changes in the design and construction of automobiles demand a change in the way fire departments fight car fires. New car materials and components have resulted in improved performance, increased fuel economy, better crash resistance, and reduced exhaust emissions. Unfortunately, some of these same materials and components make fighting a fire in a modern automobile more difficult and dangerous than with older cars. Let`s examine how changes in automobiles over the past 20 years have necessitated a more cautious strategy, less-aggressive tactics, and a higher level of personal protection.
When the fuel tank is heated by flames, the gasoline begins to vaporize and increase the pressure within the tank and fuel lines. Excessive pressure can cause a sudden, catastrophic failure of the fuel tank, usually along a seam, spilling several gallons of gasoline at firefighters` feet. Whether a bursting fuel tank can technically be called an explosion is purely a theoretical discussion. As a practical matter, it can cause a sudden, rapid intensification of an auto fire and engulf firefighters in a pool of burning gasoline. Another problem that results from a pressurized fuel system occurs when gasoline liquid or vapor under pressure escapes from an opening in the tank or a fuel line connection and burns in a blowing, three-dimensional fire."
04-10-2012, 08:10 PM
#36
Drifting
I'm not a fire engineer, but your article quote says a "sudden, rapid intensification", which is what I would expect. I think your conclusion is a stretch to say this proves gas will pour out of the car, down the driveway, and then ignite. It is a very interesting article, learn something new every day.
04-10-2012, 11:18 PM
#37
Le Mans Master
No comment---fire/arson investigator for 10 years
It would depend on several things: 1) how much gasoline was in the tank, 2) how far away is the house, 3) how steep is the driveway, If, it is a concrete driveway leading to the house 4) burn pattern across the concrete leading to the house.
It would depend on several things: 1) how much gasoline was in the tank, 2) how far away is the house, 3) how steep is the driveway, If, it is a concrete driveway leading to the house 4) burn pattern across the concrete leading to the house.
Last edited by LMB-Z; 04-10-2012 at 11:22 PM.
04-11-2012, 12:00 AM
#38
Wow that is crazy
Ive been in contact with chevy customer service (on here) over my fuel leak problems (I can actually see where fuel has leaked down the sides of the driver side tank). Seeing how this ended, Im praying that theyll end up covering it. My garage is detached, but the idea that any car would catch fire is very scary!
Ive been in contact with chevy customer service (on here) over my fuel leak problems (I can actually see where fuel has leaked down the sides of the driver side tank). Seeing how this ended, Im praying that theyll end up covering it. My garage is detached, but the idea that any car would catch fire is very scary!
