NHTSA Complaint #10319157 — 2005 TOYOTA CAMRY

THE DAY THE CAR CAUGHT FIRE, OWNER WAS DRIVING THE CAR ON THE FREEWAY, OWNER EXITED FREEWAY, DROVE SEVERAL BLOCKS, TURNED RIGHT THEN THE CAR STALLED; OWNER STEERED THE CAR TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD USING THE MOMENTUM LEFT IN THE VEHICLE. OWNER HEARD PEDESTRIANS SCREAMING TO EXIT THE CAR. OWNER SAW SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE CAR. OWNER GRABBED HER PURSE AND EXITED THE CAR IN A HURRY, LEAVING THE CAR KEY IN THE IGNITION. AS SOON AS OWNER EXITED THE CAR, THE CAR'S DOOR LOCKS LOCKED THEMSELVES, OWNER HEARD THE CLICKING NOISE OF THE DOOR LOCKS. THEN THERE WAS AN EXPLOSION, AND THERE WAS FIRE COMING OUT FROM THE LEFT SIDE UNDERNEATH THE FRONT OF THE CAR. OWNER SCREAMED FOR HELP, THEN WENT LOOKING FOR A FIRE EXTINGUISHER, BUT COULD NOT FIND ANY. THE CAR KEPT ON BURNING FOR 20 MINUTES UNTIL THE FIRE TRUCK ARRIVED, FIREMEN EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE, BUT THE CAR'S DOORS WERE ALL LOCKED, THE FIREMEN BROKE THE WINDSHIELD AND SIDE WINDOWS TO HAVE ACCESS TO THE INSIDE OF THE CAR TO COMPLETELY EXTINGUISH THE FLAMES. THE CAR WAS DECLARED TOTAL LOSS AND WAS TOWED AWAY. WE THE OWNERS OF THIS TOYOTA CAMRY 2005 HAVE RECUPERATED THE TOWED VEHICLE. WE COMMUNICATED TO TOYOTA THE SITUATION WITH THE CAR. THEY ANSWERED SAYING: THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR THAT VEHICLE AND THEREFORE WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. THE CAR SHOWED ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, JERKED SPORADICALLY, TURNED OFF WHILE RUNNING ON THE ROAD. THE CAR WOULD RESTART ON ITS OWN, SOMETIMES IT WOULD HAVE TO BE RESTARTED MANUALLY. THE CAR SHOWED INTERMITTENT ELECTRICAL PROBLEM, PROBLEM WITH THE ABS BRAKING SYSTEM. ACTUALLY SINCE WE BOUGHT THE ACTUALLY SINCE WE BOUGHT THE CAR BRAND NEW, THE DEALERSHIP SAID THAT THIS WAS NORMAL BEHAVIOR WITH THE TOYOTA ABS SYSTEM, AND DISMISSED IT AS NORMAL, THEY SAID THAT THE CORPORATE HAD INFORMED THEM TO SAY EXACTLY THAT; THIS WAS A NORMAL BEHAVIOR WITH THE TOYOTA ABS BRAKING SYSTEM. WE THE OWNER ARE FOLLOWING THE EVENTS OF TOYOTA RECALLS, AND SPECIALLY NEWS OF DEFECTS KEPT AWAY FROM PUBLIC. *TR