2005 GMC Yukon Xl 2500

WHILE DRIVING ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY AT 70 MPH I EXPERIENCE A TOTAL TIRE FAILURE WHEREAS THE MIDDLE 4 INCHES OF THE TREAD/BELT AREA OF MY BF GOODRICH LT245/75 R 16 LRE M+S COMMERCIAL T/A ALL SEASON BF11 JD11 4011 TIRE COMPLETELY SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE'S CORE, RESULTING IN THE REMAINDER OF THE TIRE'S TREAD/BELT TO CONTINUE STRIPPING AWAY CAUSING SIGNIFICANT WHEEL WELL, REAR QUARTER PANEL, GAS TUB, AND ELECTRICAL HARNESS DAMAGE TO MY 2005 YUKON XL 2500. TIRES HAD JUST PASSED A NC SAFETY INSPECTION, WERE PROPERLY INFLATED WITH 38,000 MILES ON THEM.

ON MARCH 13, 2010 AT 7 AM I FOUND MY 2005 GMC YUKON XL, WHICH WAS PARKED AND LOCKED IN MY DRIVEWAY AT THE TIME, WITH THE RIGHT REAR TURN SIGNAL FLASHING. AFTER OBTAINING THE KEYS TO UNLOCK THE VEHICLE AND UPON OPENING THE DRIVER DOOR I FOUND THE DASH BOARD COMPLETELY MELTED AS A RESULT OF A SPONTANEOUS FIRE WHICH HAD OCCURRED SOMETIME AFTER 12 AM THAT MORNING. THERE WAS A SMALL HOLE IN THE FRONT WINDSHIELD JUST ABOVE WHERE THE FIRE OCCURRED. THE HEADLINER WAS COMPLETELY CHARRED ALL THE WAY TO THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTENTS OF THE VEHICLE WERE COVERED IN HEAVY SOOT INCLUDING A BRAND NEW TODDLER CAR SEAT, STROLLER, SOFTBALL GEAR BAG, DVD NOTEBOOK FILLED WITH DVD'S AND VARIOUS TOOLS. AFTER THE FIRE WAS INVESTIGATED BY THE MARYLAND STATE FIRE MARSHALL'S OFFICE THE FIRE WAS DETERMINED TO BE ELECTRICAL. IT NEVER PENETRATED THROUGH THE FIREWALL INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. IT WAS ALSO DETERMINED THAT THE FIRE EXTINGUISHED ITSELF DUE TO LACK OF OXYGEN AND NEVER AFFECTED THE OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE OTHER THAN THE HOLE LEFT BEHIND IN THE UPPER LEFT HAND CORNER OF THE WINDSHIELD. IT WAS RAINING THAT NIGHT, SO IT IS BELIEVED THE RAIN IS WHAT KEPT ENOUGH OXYGEN FROM ENTERING THROUGH THE HOLE. WE CONTACTED GM AND OUR INSURANCE IMMEDIATELY. WE DIDN'T HEAR BACK FROM GM UNTIL 3 DAYS AFTER THE OCCURRENCE. THEY TOOK A REPORT. WE WERE TOLD THAT "THE REPORT WOULD BE SENT TO TEXAS AND WE SHOULD HEAR SOMETHING BACK WITHIN 5-10 BUSINESS DAYS." TODAY IS DAY 11 AND THE ONLY THING I HAVE HEARD IS THAT A LETTER HAS BEEN SENT BY MAIL TO US TO SUBMIT TO OUR INSURANCE COMPANY. THAT LETTER HAS NOT YET BEEN RECEIVED. HAD THIS VEHICLE BEEN PARKED IN OUR GARAGE THE OUTCOME WOULD HAVE BEEN MORE CATASTROPHIC AS IT WOULD HAVE BEEN DRY ALLOWING MORE OXYGEN TO ENTER THE VEHICLE. WHAT IF THIS SPONTANEOUS FIRE OCCURRED WITH MY CHILDREN INSIDE WHILE I WAS PUMPING GAS? THERE IS ONLY ONE KEY HOLE TO UNLOCK THE ENTIRE VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE WOULD HAVE BEEN LOCKED FOR THEIR SAFETY.