NHTSA Complaint #10377268 — 1999 TOYOTA CAMRY

I STARTED MY CAR, SAT IN THE PARKING LOT FOR ABOUT 2 MINUTES BEFORE I PUT IT IN GEAR & BEGAN MOVING. DROVE APPROXIMATELY 100-200 YARDS TO THE EXIT OF THE PARKING LOT WHEN I NOTICED ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS AND SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE VENTS AND OUT FROM UNDER HOOD. I TURNED OFF THE ENGINE, TURNED ON THE EMERGENCY FLASHERS & GOT OUT OF THE CAR. THE EMERGENCY FLASHERS DIED NOT LONG AFTER I TURNED THEM ON. ONCE I DETERMINED THERE WASN'T A FIRE, I CAREFULLY OPENED THE HOOD TO SEE SMOKE STILL POURING OUT OF THE STARTER. I HAD IT TOWED TO THE SHOP WHERE THEY DETERMINED THAT SOMEHOW THE STARTER HAD BEEN ENGAGED WHILE THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING AND DIDN'T STOP UNTIL IT HAD DRAINED THE BATTERY COMPLETELY. I WAS TOLD THAT I WAS VERY LUCKY THAT THE HEAT FROM THE STARTER HAD NOT MELTED ANY HOSES AND IGNITED SOMETHING. THE STARTER WAS REPLACED (IT WAS THE ORIGINAL STARTER FROM WHEN THE CAR WAS NEW), BATTERY RECHARGED AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS CHECKED FOR DAMAGE. LUCKILY, THE ONLY DAMAGE APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN TO THE STARTER ITSELF. I SUBSEQUENTLY WENT ONLINE AND FOUND REFERENCES TO STARTERS IN THE SAME MAKE, MODEL & YEAR OVERHEATING IN THE SAME WAY & SOME EVEN CATCHING THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT ON FIRE. I HAVE TO WONDER HOW MANY SUCH INCIDENTS HAVE GONE UNREPORTED, OR HOW MANY ENGINE FIRES WERE CAUSED BY STARTERS, BUT THE CAUSE WAS NEVER FOUND, BECAUSE THE STARTER & EVERYTHING ELSE WAS DESTROYED.