NHTSA Complaint #10438115 — 2008 TOYOTA AVALON

IDLING IN THE DRIVEWAY WITH THE HIGH BEAMS ILLUMINATED, WE HEARD WHAT SEEMED LIKE A FIREWORK OR SMALL ARMS FIRE. MOMENTS LATER THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. WE EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE AND DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY CABLES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED IN TO THE LOCAL TOYOTA BODY SHOP WHERE IT WAS EXAMINED, DIAGNOSED, & REPAIRED. THE DRIVERS SIDE HEADLIGHT LENS, BUMPER COVER, & COWLING WERE REPLACED DUE TO MELTING AND FIRE DAMAGE, THE WIRING HARNESS WAS INSPECTED AND REPAIRED(IT HAD BEEN DETERMINED IT HADN'T BEEN DAMAGED OTHER THAN INSPECTION) ALL PARTS WERE RESERVED FOR MY INSPECTION. I HAD BEEN TOLD THE HIGH BEAM HAD WORKED ITSELF LOOSE & CAUSED THE FIRE. THIS DID NOT HAPPEN!!! THE BULB HAD EXPLODED IN THE HOUSING, MINUTE PIECES OF GLASS WERE INSIDE THE HEADLIGHT HOUSING, & THE ONLY DAMAGE TO IT WAS EXTERNAL CHARRING. I HAVE STORED THE LENS FOR INSPECTION, PROVING THE EXPLOSION THEORY. I THANK THE LORD WE WERE NOT DRIVING AT THE TIME OR THE VEHICLE WOULD HAVE BURNED TO A CRISP. WE RECEIVED A FORM LETTER FROM TOYOTA A "WARRANTY ENHANCEMENT NOTICE" CONCERNING CERTAIN 2008- 2010 AVALON'S HIGH BEAM DRL BULBS. OBVIOUSLY THEY HAVE HAD OTHER ISSUES AS THEY HAVE OFFERED REIMBURSEMENT IF WE HAVE HAD ANY REPAIRS PAID FOR "OUT OF POCKET" THIS BULB EXPLODED.....IT CAUSED A FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, ITS ONLY BY THE GRACE OF GOD THAT WE WERE IDLING IN A DRIVEWAY NEAR A WATER SOURCE, AND I HAVE HAD FIRE SAFETY TRAINING. I HAVE SINCE PURCHASED A LARGE EXTINGUISHER AND CARRY IT IT THE VEHICLE. WE ARE VERY ANXIOUS & CAUTIOUS DRIVING THE VEHICLE NOW. *TR