NHTSA Complaint #11208525 — 2018 HONDA CIVIC

ELECTRICAL FIRE WITHIN THE DRIVER DOOR. A FIRE STARTED WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED OUTSIDE AND OFF AT MALL IN TOLEDO, OHIO. WEATHER HAD BEEN RAINY. CAME OUT TO VEHICLE AND THE INSIDE WAS FILLED WITH SMOKE. AFTER FIRE DEPARTMENT AND TOWING AGENCY MANAGED TO GET THE PASSENGER DOOR OPEN TO GET INSIDE, IT WAS REVEALED THAT THE DRIVE DOOR HAD BEEN ON FIRE AND MELTED. THE FIRE HAD ALSO DESTROYED THE HEADLINER, DRIVE SEAT AND LEFT THE SMOKE DAMAGED INTERIOR COVERED IN SOOT. THERE WAS ALSO A HOLE IN THE DRIVER FLOOR, REVEALING POSSIBLE FRAME DAMAGE. HONDA SAYS THAT THEY ARE INVESTIGATING TO SEE WHICH COMPONENT CAUSED THE FIRE. DURING A PREVIOUS OIL CHANGE IN FEBRUARY, I HAD MENTIONED TO THE MECHANICS THAT THE CAR HAD BEEN BEEPING RAPIDLY WHILE IT WAS OFF AND THE KEY FOB WAS OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE. IT IS ONLY SUPPOSED TO DO THIS IF THE VEHICLE IS STILL RUNNING. I WAS TOLD THAT THIS WAS NORMAL WHEN THE WEATHER WAS COLD, BUT IT ALSO HAPPENED WHEN IT WAS WARM OUTSIDE, AND BECOMING MORE FREQUENTLY AS TIME WENT ON. THIS CONCERN WAS BRUSHED OFF BY BROWN HONDA, WHO ALSO REFUSED TO PROVIDE A LOANER VEHICLE WHILE HONDA WAS INVESTIGATING THE ISSUE. HONDA CORPORATE SAID THAT THE BEEPING SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING IF THE CAR IS OFF. I AM CURRENTLY WAITING ON HONDA FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.