A keen observation by a firefighter specializing in fire investigation has led to the discovery of a vehicle defect causing repeated fires in a specific part of Renault SM3 cars. (Image courtesy of Gyeonggi Fire and Disaster Headquarters)
YONGIN, Jan. 31 (Korea Bizwire) – A keen observation by a firefighter specializing in fire investigation has led to the discovery of a vehicle defect causing repeated fires in a specific part of Renault SM3 cars.
Yang Won-seok, a fire marshal at the Yongin Fire Station under the Gyeonggi Province Fire and Disaster Headquarters, first noticed a fire in the engine compartment of a Renault SM3 in a Yongin apartment complex’s parking lot in 2021.
Following this incident, two more fires originating in the engine compartments of the same model were reported in Yongin by the middle of last year. Intrigued by the pattern, Yang conducted a comprehensive review of 17 fire incidents involving SM3 vehicles in Gyeonggi Province from December 2014 to June 2023.
Yang’s investigation concluded that the fires were caused by faulty grounding wires connected to the Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) modules in SM3 models produced between 2005 and 2016.
Yang Won-seok, a fire marshal at the Yongin Fire Station under the Gyeonggi Province Fire and Disaster Headquarters (Image courtesy of Gyeonggi Fire and Disaster Headquarters)
Following this revelation, Yang asked the Korea Transportation Safety Authority in July of last year to review the defect for compensation, leading to a voluntary recall initiated by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport (MOLIT).
The MOLIT confirmed the defect based on Yang’s fire scene investigation reports and technical analyses and announced a recall on January 17 for 83,574 SM3 vehicles manufactured between July 2005 and December 2010.
The Korea Transportation Safety Authority (KOTSA) acknowledged Yang’s contribution and expressed gratitude for his proactive cooperation in preventing automobile fires. In a letter to the Yongin Fire Station, the KOTSA emphasized the importance of continued collaboration and information sharing to prevent future fire incidents stemming from vehicle defects.
Reflecting on the government’s decision to confirm the vehicle defect and initiate a large-scale recall, Yang expressed his fulfillment as a fire investigator and his ongoing commitment to preventing fires through accurate cause analysis.
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
