NHTSA Complaint #10283569 — 2001 TOYOTA CAMRY

I WAS TRAVELING IN MY TOYOTA CAMRY 2001 ON I 75 S FROM ROYAL OAK TO DETROIT, MI AROUND 2:30 AM ON SEPTEMBER 6TH 2009 ,WHEN SUDDENLY I HEARD SOME CRACKING NOISE UNDERNEATH THE HOOD AND FIRE FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. I WAS TRAVELING AT AROUND 70 MILES/HR AND TRIED TO STEER THE VEHICLE TO WARDS THE SHOULDER AND POWER STEERING FAILED AND I SAW ENGINE LIGHT BLINKING, THEN TRIED TO SLOW DOWN AND BRAKES FAILED. I QUICKLY USED HAND BRAKE AND STOPPED THE VEHICLE. I QUICKLY TURNED OFF THE IGNITION AND TRIED TO OPEN THE DOOR AND NOTICED THAT IT WAS LOCKED. I QUICKLY PULLED BOTH THE KNOBS SIMULTANEOUSLY AND GOT OUT OF THE CAR AND CALLED 911. BY THE TIME FIRE ENGINE CAME TO THE SCENE, THE CAR WAS ON HUGE FIRE. MY CAR DIDN'T HAVE ANY MAJOR ISSUES IN THE PAST. I DID CHANGE TIMING BELT AS PER THE COMPANY GUIDELINES AND AT AUTHORIZED DEALER/SERVICE CENTER. I CHANGED THE TIRES 2 MONTHS AGO AND OIL CHANGE 1 AND HALF MONTH AGO. NEITHER COPS NOR ME COULD COME TO A CONCLUSION ON WHAT WENT WRONG. I AM LETTING YOU KNOW AS IT MAY HELP TO INCREASE THE SAFETY OF CARS IF YOU INVESTIGATE MY CAR. I WILL BE WAITING FOR YOUR RESPONSE. *TR