NHTSA Complaint #11139567 — 2016 LEXUS RX350

I WAS ON MY WAY IN CAR FROM HOME (BRIDGEWATER NJ) WITH MY DAUGHTER TO DROP HER FOR VOLLEYBALL PRACTICE IN HILLSBOROUGH NJ. ABOUT IN 7-10 MINS DRIVE, MY DAUGHTER AND I SMELLED SMOKE COMING FROM THE AC VENT AND ALSO NOTICED SMOKE FROM THE FRONT HOOD. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED THE CAR TO THE SHOULDER. THERE WERE NO SIGNS OF ALERT INDICATION ON THE DASHBOARD. I TURNED THE ENGINE OFF AND TURNED ON THE HAZARD LIGHTS. WHEN I GOT OFF THE CAR, I IMMEDIATELY OPENED THE FRONT HOOD AND SAW THE FIRE BETWEEN RADIATOR AND ENGINE CYLINDER BLOCK. I IMMEDIATELY CALLED 911. MY DAUGHTER CALLED HER MOM SAYING OUR CAR IS ON FIRE. MY WIFE SUGGESTED MY DAUGHTER TO VIDEO TAPE THIS. WHILE MY DAUGHTER WAS VIDEO TAPPING THIS EVENT, THE 911 RESPONDER SUGGESTED WE GET IN A SAFE DISTANCE FROM THE CAR AND THAT THE FIRE RESPONDERS ARE ON THEIR WAY TO THIS INCIDENT. WE IMMEDIATELY GOT TO A SAFE DISTANCE. WITHIN 5 MINUTES FROM THE CALL, THE FIRE CHIEF ARRIVED AND BLOCKED THE TRAFFIC. BY THIS TIME, THE FIRE SPREAD TO THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER AREA. WE HEARD THE AIRBAGS AND TIRES EXPLODING. THE FIRE TRUCKS CAME AND THE FIRE FIGHTERS STARTED TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE WITH WATER & FOAM. THE CAR HAD COMPLETELY BURNED TO TOTAL LOSS. PLEASE NOTE MY DAUGHTER, 14 YEAR OLD AND I ARE IN COMPLETE SHOCK AND TRAUMATIZED WITH THIS HORRIFIC INCIDENT. MY DAUGHTER IS HAVING NIGHTMARES FROM THIS AND WE ARE SCARED WITH THIS EVENT.