NHTSA Complaint #10629931 — 2013 TOYOTA AVALON

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH ON A CLEAR SUNNY DAY THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS TURNED ON AND BEGAN TO OPERATE AT FULL SPEED AND WOULD NOT RESPOND AT ATTEMPTS TO STOP THEM. THE HORN STARTED GOING OFF WITH ALARM NOISES IN THE VEHICLE. THE SMELL OF AN ELECTRICAL ODOR AND WHITE SMOKE BEGAN TO ENTER THE CABIN THROUGH THE DASH. ATTEMPTS TO PULL THE VEHICLE OVER WERE PREVENTED AS THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED. THE BRAKES WOULD NOT RESPOND OR WORK DESPITE STEPPING ON THEM WITH BOTH FEET AND ATTEMPTING TO PUMP THEM. THE VEHICLE WAS STILL TRAVELING ON THE ROAD AND DOWN A HILL WITH NO ELECTRICAL, STEERING, OR POWER FUNCTION OF THE VEHICLE. AS THE VEHICLE SLOWED THE PASSENGER JUMPED OUT. FIRE BEGAN TO COME THROUGH THE DASH AND UPON THE DRIVER OPENING HIS DOOR FIRE ALSO CAME INTO THE CABIN FROM BENEATH THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER JUMPED OUT JUST BEFORE THE VEHICLE CAREENED DOWN AN EMBANKMENT AND EXPLODED 3 TIMES. *TR