NHTSA Complaint #11309138 — 2013 NISSAN ROGUE

WE LAST USED THE CAR AT 2:30PM AND PARKED IT IN OUR DRIVEWAY. IT WAS STATIONARY AND UNUSED FOR ABOUT 4.5 HOURS. AT ABOUT 7PM WE HEARD THE HORN GO OFF. IT WAS A STEADY BLOWING OF THE HORN. I OPENED THE FRONT DOOR, REALIZED IT WAS OUR CAR, AND GRABBED MY KEYS TO START THE CAR TO SEE IF THAT WOULD MAKE THE HORN STOP. WHEN I OPENED THE DRIVERS DOOR OF THE CAR I SAW THE ORANGE FLAMES AND THICK BLACK SMOKE. I RAN INTO THE HOUSE, HAD MY WIFE CALL 911 AND I GRABBED THE HOUSE FIRE EXTINGUISHER. THE FIRE STARTED ON THE DRIVERS SIDE OF THE CAR EITHER RIGHT BELOW THE STEERING WHEEL OR ON THE LEFT SIDEWALL WHERE THE DRIVER'S LEFT LEG WOULD REST. I DID MY BEST PUTTING OUT THE FLAMES FROM THE DRIVERS SIDE BUT HAD TO GO TO THE RIDERS SIDE TO PUT OUT THE LEFT PANEL BY THE DRIVERS LEGS. THE FIRE WAS PROBABLY 95% PUT OUT WHEN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND POLICE DEPARTMENT SHOWED. BECAUSE THE FRONT HOOD RELEASE LATCH WAS SEVERELY DAMAGED BY THE FIRE THE FIRE DEPARTMENT HAD TO FORCE THE HOOD OPEN TO CHECK FOR FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ALSO REMOVED PARTS OF DASHBOARD THAT WERE BURNT TO CHECK BEHIND TO MAKE SURE THE FIRE WAS OUT. IT WAS TOWED AWAY ABOUT AN HOUR LATER. THE CAR WAS "TOTALED" A WEEK LATER BY MY INSURANCE COMPANY.*DT*JB