NHTSA Complaint #10716356 — 2010 TOYOTA YARIS

I GOT IN MY CAR, STARTED THE ENGINE, IMMEDIATELY I STARTED SMELLING STRONG BURNING SMELL. THAN STARTED SEEING SMOKE FROM THE DRIVER DOOR. WITHIN FEW SECONDS I STARTED SEEING FLAMES. SINCE I WAS ALREADY ON THE ROAD, I COULDN'T JUST STOP THE CAR. THE FLAME GOT BIGGER AND BIGGER, IN THE CAR CABIN, IT WAS FILL WITH BURNING SMOKE. I TRIED TO ROLL DOWN THE WINDOW, IT DIDN'T WANT TO WORK. I HAS A CUP OF COFFEE IN THE CAR, I POURED IT ON THE FLAME AND IT SUBSIDED A LITTLE. THAN THE FLAMED STARTED TO GET BIGGER AGAIN AND STARTED MELTING THE INTERIOR PANEL OF THE DOOR INCLUDING EVERYTHING AROUND THE INNER DOOR HANDLE. I PARKED AS SOON AS I WAS ABLE TO AND TOOK A CLOTH AND TRIED TO WRAP AROUND THE HANDLE TO OPEN THE DOOR, BUT COULDN'T. IT WAS TOO HOT AND FLAMES WERE BURNING. SO I CRAWLED OVER THE THE PASSENGER SEAT AND GOT OUT OF THE CAR. THEN WENT TO THE OUTSIDE OF DRIVER DOOR AND OPENED THE DOOR FROM OUTSIDE AND TOOK OFF MY SHIRT AND TRIED TO KILL THE FIRE. I WAS PARKED AT A PARKING LOT BEHIND A BUILDING AT A MALL. I REACHED OUT FOR HELP FROM THE MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL AT THE PARKING LOT. THEY DIDN'T HAVE ANY TOOLS TO HELP ME DISENGAGED THE CABLES FROM THE BATTERY. FINALLY A LADY HAD A BOTTLE OF WATER THAT KIND OF EASED THE FLAME A LITTLE AND A MAN THAT WAS WALKING BY GOT A TOOL AND HELPED ME DIS-ENGAGE THE CABLE FROM BATTERY. THE INTERIOR PANEL OF THE DOOR IS MELTED INCLUDING THE WINDOW CONTROLS. THE WINDOW IS DARK FROM THE FLAME. THE WHOLE CAR SMELLS LIKE BURNT SMOKE. THE FIRE TRUCK, THE POLICE CAME. THE HEAD OF THE SECURITY OF THE BUILDING CAME. I HAVE A POLICE REPORT AND WHAT HAPPENED WAS DOCUMENTED. I NEED TO KNOW WHAT TO DO NOW. I HAVE PICTURES TO PROVE THE DAMAGES. PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHAT I SHOULD DO NEXT. UPDATD 07-08-15 *BF UPDATED 9/21/2015 *JS