NHTSA Complaint #10298242 — 2000 TOYOTA CELICA

WE BOUGHT A 2000 TOYOTA CELICA FOR OUR 16 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER. THE CAR WAS USED WITH ABOUT 80K MILES. THE CAR WAS IN EXCELLENT SHAPE, AND HAD NOT BEEN ALTERED IN ANY WAY. ON JANUARY 2ND, OUR DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK AND THE CAR CAUGHT FIRE. SHE WAS ABLE TO GET OUT OF THE CAR AND CALL 911. THE CAR IS A TOTAL LOSS, AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT STATED THAT IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL FIRE. THE WEATHER THAT DAY WAS CLEAR, BUT VERY COLD. SHE STATED THAT THE ONLY THING ON IN THE CAR WAS THE HEATER. WE HAVE NOT HAD ANY WORK DONE THIS CAR EXCEPT AN OIL CHANGE. I AM THANKFUL THAT MY DAUGHTER WAS ABLE TO KEEP HER WITS ENOUGH TO REMEMBER THE MANUAL DOOR LOCKS. MY WIFE AND I WENT TO GREAT LENGTHS TO BUY A SAFE AND RELIABLE CAR FOR HER, AND THE CARFAX STATED THAT THERE WAS NO NEGATIVE HISTORY ON THE CAR. I AM VERY CONCERNED THAT THIS CAR HAS A DEFECT THAT COULD HAVE RESULTED IN INJURY OR DEATH. I HAVE INSPECTED THE DAMAGE, AND IT APPEARS THAT THE MAIN FIRE WAS CENTERED AROUND THE COMPUTER AND BATTERY AREA. THANKS, JOE PHILLIPS *TR