NHTSA Complaint #10979475 — 2014 HONDA CR-V

ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE IN MY 2014 HONDA CR-V WHILE I WAS DRIVING TO WORK THE MORNING OF JANUARY 19, 2017. I PURCHASED THE CR-V NEW IN EARLY 2015. AT THE TIME OF THE ENGINE FIRE THERE WAS 49,585 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. THE ONLY WORK EVER COMPLETED ON THE CR-V WERE TIMELY OIL AND FILTER CHANGES, AND TIRE ROTATIONS. THERE WAS NOT ANY SUGGESTED OR REQUIRED WORK THAT WAS NOT COMPLETED. THERE WAS NOTHING UNUSUAL WITH THE CAR, NO NOISES, NO ODORS, AND I WAS THE LAST PERSON TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE PRIOR TO THIS DAY. FORENSICS REPORT CONCLUDED THAT THE FIRE ORIGINATED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT IN AND AROUND THE FUEL SYSTEM. AT 8:50AM ON THURSDAY MORNING JANUARY 19, 2017 I LEFT MY HOME IN NJ TO TRAVEL TO WORK 14 MILES AWAY. IN LEAVING HOME THE CR-V STARTED NORMAL. I WAS ABOUT 10 MINUTES INTO THE TYPICAL 45 MINUTE DRIVE. I WAS DRIVING ON A TWO LANE HIGHWAY. I WAS SLOWING DOWN TO ABOUT 10 MPH TO MERGE INTO ONE LANE. I NOTICED LIGHT WHITE SMOKE COMING IN FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE VENT. I THEN NOTICED MORE GRAYISH SMOKE COMING FROM THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ENGINE HOOD. I PULLED OVER OFF THE HIGHWAY ONTO THE SHOULDER. THERE WAS NOTHING UNUSUAL ON THE PANEL OF THE CAR, NO LIGHTS, NO GAUGES, THE TEMP WAS NORMAL. I CALLED 911 AT ABOUT 9:01AM. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT HAD THE FIRE OUT IN ABOUT 12 MINUTES. THE CR-V OF COURSE WAS A COMPLETE LOSS.