NHTSA Complaint #10068201 — 1999 TOYOTA CAMRY

AS I WAS DRIVING TO WORK, AT 7:30 AM ON THURSDAY APRIL 22, 2004, I NOTICED A CLICKING SOUND COMING FROM UNDER MY AUTO'S HOOD. THE AUTO WAS A 1999 TOYOTA CAMRY, WITH ABOUT 90,100 MILES ON IT. THE CLICKING NOISE REMINDED ME OF A SPINNING ROULETTE WHEEL. AFTER A FEW MINUTES, THE NOISE INCREASED IN INTENSITY. AT THAT POINT, I DECIDED THAT I NEEDED TO GO TO A REPAIR FACILITY TO HAVE IT EXAMINED. AS I WAS DOING THAT, THERE WAS A LOUD, EXPLOSION-LIKE NOISE AND THE ENGINE STARTED SMOKING VERY HEAVILY. I PULLED OFF THE ROAD, AT WHICH POINT, I GATHERED UP SOME IMPORTANT ITEMS FROM MY CAR, AND EXITED THE VEHICLE. BY THIS TIME, THERE WERE FLAMES COMING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I CALLED 911 AND ADVISED THE DISPATCHER OF MY CIRCUMSTANCES AND LOCATION. THE CONNECTICUT STATE POLICE ARRIVED WITHIN THREE MINUTES OF MY CALL. THEY TRIED TO PUT OUT THE FIRE WITH AN EXTINGUISHER, BUT WERE UNABLE TO DO SO. BY THE TIME THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED, 10 MINUTES LATER, THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WAS COMPLETELY ENGULFED IN FLAMES AND SMOKE. THEY WERE ABLE TO QUICKLY EXTINGUISH THE FIRE, BUT BY THAT TIME, THE CAR WAS RUINED. A FEW MINUTES LATER, A TOW TRUK REMOVED THE VEHICLE TO A NEARBY GARAGE. I CALLED MY INSURANCE COMPANY AND FILED A CLAIM. THEY HAVE SINCE DECLARED THE VEHICLE A TOTAL LOSS AND ARE IN THE PROCESS OF REMITTING MY SETTLEMENT.*AK