NHTSA Complaint #10785430 — 2006 TOYOTA COROLLA MATRIX

MY VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE IN MY DRIVEWAY APPROXIMATELY 5-10 MINUTES AFTER I RETURNED HOME FROM FROM MY JOB, WHICH IS 12 MILES FROM MY HOME. IT WAS DARK, AND THE ONLY UNUSUAL THING I NOTICED WAS ONE OF MY HEADLIGHTS WAS OUT AND THE OTHER SEEMED DIM. I MENTIONED IT TO MY HUSBAND AND HE SAID HE'D REPLACE THE BULBS. WITHIN MINUTES I HEARD SIRENS, BUT I WASN'T IN A ROOM THAT FACED THE DRIVEWAY AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS ALREADY ON SCENE WHEN I REALIZED THE FRONT END OF MY CAR WAS FULLY ENGULFED. THE FIRE TOOK APPROXIMATELY 20 MINUTES TO FULLY EXTINGUISH AND THE HEAT DAMAGED AN ADJACENT VEHICLE. NO ONE WAS INJURED AND MY HOME WAS NOT DAMAGED. THE CAR WAS STATIONARY, PARKED AND UNOCCUPIED WHEN THE FIRE BROKE OUT. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT DETERMINED THE CAUSE AS MECHANICAL AND THEIR REPORT IS PENDING. A POLICE OFFICER RESPONDED BUT DID NOT FILE A REPORT AFTER RULING OUT CRIMINAL ACTIVITY. I DO NOT KNOW WHAT SPECIFICALLY CAUSED THE FIRE BUT THE ATTACHED PHOTOS SHOW THE DAMAGE, INCLUDING TO THE ADJACENT CAR.