NHTSA Complaint #10763584 — 2002 TOYOTA CAMRY

HUSBAND WAS DRIVING HOME FROM PLAYING GOLF ON THE HIGHWAY. AS HE HEADED NORTH UP THE HILL, HE PRESSED THE GAS. THE CAR PROMPTLY JERKED THEN COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN/CEIZED. HUSBAND IMMEDIATELY LOOKED AT THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE, WHICH READ NORMAL, AS WELL AS THE GAS GAUGE (FULL). AS HE STEPPED FROM THE CAR TO POP THE HOOD, HE COULD SMELL SMOKE. IN OPENING THE HOOD, THERE WAS A SMALL FLAME THAT WITHIN 1-2 MINUTES, COMPLETELY ENGULFED THE ENGINE/HOOD. HUSBAND IMMEDIATELY CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, AS THE CAR CONTINUED TO GROW IN FLAMES WHICH SPREAD TO A BRUSH FIRE. HUSBAND WAS NOT INJURED AND THERE WERE NO OTHER PERSONS INVOLVED IN THIS ACCIDENT (NON-COLLISION). BOTH THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND STATE TROOPER ARRIVED TO THE SCENE AND TOOK A FULL REPORT AND INSPECTION OF THE ACCIDENT. ALL PARTIES AGREED THIS WAS THE RESULT OF A VEHICLE MALFUNCTION, AS CARS DO NOT NOR SHOULD THEY JUST CATCH FIRE! THE CAR WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED AND WAS TOWED.