NHTSA Complaint #10347193 — 2000 NISSAN SENTRA

WE HAD A 2000 NISSAN SENTRA GXE, WITH 83245 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. THERE WERE NO ISSUES WITH CAR AND IT HAD ALWAYS BEEN REGULARLY SERVICED. ON JULY 29, 2010 AFTER A NORMAL DAY'S ACTIVITIES WHICH INVOLVED DRIVING TO AND FROM WORK AND A SHORT TRIP WITHIN TOWN TO AND FROM THE LOCAL SWIMMING POOL, IT WAS AS USUAL PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY OF OUR HOME AT 8PM. WE LOCKED THE CAR AND WENT INTO THE HOUSE AND WERE SITTING DOWN TO DINNER WHEN AT 8:20PM WE NOTICED A LARGE PLUME OF SMOKE DRIFT BY THE DINING ROOM WINDOW. WHEN WE WENT OUT TO INVESTIGATE WE SAW THICK BILLOWING SMOKE BLOWING OUT OF THE HOOD OF THE CAR. WE COULD ALSO SEE FLAMES UNDER THE HOOD. THE ENGINE WAS ON FIRE. WE DIALED 911 AND THE FIRE TRUCKS ROLLED IN. THE FIREMEN HAD DIFFICULTY OPENING THE HOOD BECAUSE THE HEAT HAD FUSED THE HOOD TO THE BODY AND THEY HAD TO PUNCH HOLES IN THE SIDE AND USE CROWBARS TO PRY THE HOOD OPEN. AFTER A BRIEF DOUSING WITH FIRE RETARDANT FOAM, THE FIREMEN PUT OUT THE FLAMES WITHIN A FEW MINUTES. ONCE THE FLAMES WERE PUT OUT WE COULD SEE THAT THE ENTIRE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WAS A MASS OF BURNED PLASTIC AND RUBBER AND CHARRED AND TWISTED METAL. THE INSURANCE COMPANY HAS DECLARED THE CAR TO BE A TOTAL LOSS. THANKFULLY NOBODY WAS INJURED AND OUR HOME WAS NOT DAMAGED. WE ARE SHOCKED AND DISMAYED THAT A SUPPOSEDLY RELIABLE COMPACT CAR COULD WITHOUT ANY APPARENT REASON BURST INTO FLAMES AND DIE LIKE THIS ONE DID. *TR