© Tundraheadquarters.comThis is what’s left of Paul’s 2014 Chevy Silverado.
Paul said his truck slowed down and all of the dash interior lights came on as he was driving along Richmond around 7 p.m. Tuesday. It was then that he noticed a fireball under the hood.
Paul bolted from the cab and within 30 seconds he said the truck's front end was engulfed in flames.
Late last week, General Motors issued around 370,000 recall letters for 2014 Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra pickup trucks. A software malfunction makes an idling truck heat up to levels that can start a fast-moving fire, melting plastic parts and leading to total destruction of the vehicle, according to GM.
Paul, the head wrestling coach at St. John's School, believes his truck is a victim of the recall defect.
Truck owners are to report to a GM dealership as soon as possible for a no-charge fix, which should only take half an hour, according to GM spokesman Alan Adler. In the meantime, owners are warned not to let their vehicle idle.
According to the recall letters, only those trucks equipped with a 4.3 liter or 5.3 liter engine are at risk for fire. Trucks with 6.2 liter engines are not a part of the recall.
As of Friday afternoon, Adler said his company only knew of 10 confirmed fires that were related to the defect. He added that the majority of the problems were reported in colder areas, like the northern parts of the US and Canada.
"That's not to say it can't happen elsewhere," said Adler.
He said no fatalities have been reported, but one person was treated for smoke inhalation related to one of the fires.
Adler said that employees at a regional GM office are aware of Paul's recent truck fire and are working to assist the Houston man.
"I'm a teacher so I get paid in smiles and high fives," Paul said, adding that he hopes to get compensated for his personal loss. The truck was a Christmas present to himself, he said.
"We're doing everything we can to put the customer first," said Adler.
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