NHTSA Complaint #10041083 — 2001 TOYOTA CAMRY

THE CAR SUDDENLY BROKE DOWN ON A MAJOR INTERSTATE OUT OF WASHINGTON, DC, ON MY WAY HOME FROM WORK. WITHOUT WARNING (E.G., NO WARNING LIGHTS OR PREVIOUS PROBLEMS), IT STARTED TO JERK SPORADICALLY AND HESITATED WHEN I DEPRESSED THE GAS PEDAL. AS I APPROACHED MY EXIT TO I-495 NORTH, THE CAR GOT WORSE IT STARTED TO MAKE A CLICKING-AND-CLACKING NOISE AND SEEMED THAT IT WOULD DIE AT ANYTIME. I TOOK THE FIRST EXIT OFF OF I-495 (210: INDIAN HEAD HIGHWAY, SOUTH) BECAUSE I KNEW THAT THERE WAS A SHELL GAS STATION WITH A GARAGE. AS I APPROACHED THE STATION, I HEARD A LOUD POPPING SOUND AND THE FRONT OF THE CAR STARTED TO SMOKE. I WAS TERRIFIED THAT THE CAR WOULD CATCH ON FIRE. *LA