A driver from Huntingdon, Nick Landry-Crête, learned at his own expense the importance of having your car checked when it is the subject of a recall by the manufacturer. Returning home from the corner store on Monday, December 28, the front of his car literally burst into flame.
In a Facebook message, the young man explains that his car, a Chevrolet Optra, which he bought from a used car dealer in September, had been the subject of a recall launched some time ago. The car dealer, however, had not mentioned this to him.
« The dealer told me that everything in the car was in order and I shouldn’t have any problems, unfortunately this wasn’t the case. »
The recall in question, issued in May 2014 by Transport Canada, concerns Optra brand cars from 2004 to 2007. It states that: « On certain vehicles, heat generated within the headlamp switch and/or daytime running light (DRL) module could melt the headlamp switch or DRL module and cause a fire, which may result in injury and/or property damage. »
The photographs he sent us are a good illustration of the damage caused to the vehicle « As luck would have it, my young family was not in the car. I hate to think what would have happened if my children had been with me, » wrote the father of two young children.
It was only at the beginning of December that Landry-Crête found out, by chance, about this recall while searching the internet for car parts. Although he took steps to have his car checked at a dealership, the dealership was slow about making an appointment with him.
« Often, when there are recalls with automobile manufacturers, people think that it’s no big deal, but I have learned that you shouldn’t wait to get your car checked because look what happened to me, » concluded Nick Landry-Crête.
Chevrolet Optra brand cars are the subject of five recalls in total, involving various models built between 2004 and 2007.
Translated by Cathleen Johnston
