NHTSA Complaint #10253928 — 2007 SCION TC

ON DECEMBER 15, 2008 I PARKED MY CAR OUTSIDE OF A SHOP IN MD AND WITHIN 10 MINUTES OF RETURNING, I SAW WHITE, ELECTRICAL SMOKE RISING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. DURING THIS TIME THE VEHICLE WAS OFF. AS I WALKED TO MY VEHICLE SEVERAL WITNESSES AND THE MALL SECURITY HAD ARRIVED AND WERE READY WITH A FIRE EXTINGUISHER. I OPENED MY HOOD AND SUDDENLY THE ENTIRE ENGINE BURNED IN FLAMES AND ALMOST BURNED SEVERAL PEOPLE INCLUDING MYSELF. THIS INCIDENT DID NOT BURN THE VEHICLE BUT ONLY THE ENGINE AND IT WAS REPORTED TO TOYOTA/SCION WITHIN 30 MINUTES OF THE FIRE. TOYOTA DID VERY LITTLE TO INVESTIGATE THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE AND OVER 20 DAYS LATER, WHILE MY VEHICLE IS UNDER WARRANTY, SENT ME A LETTER SAYING "THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS NOT FROM A MANUFACTURE DEFECT". THEY DID NOT GIVE A REASON FOR THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE AND HAS NOT DONE ANYTHING ELSE ABOUT IT. ALSO, THE VEHICLE WAS 100% TOYOTA STOCK WITH ALL WIRING, ELECTRICAL, AND EVEN THE BRAKE PADS WERE ORIGINAL. *TR