NHTSA Complaint #11362502 — 2013 TOYOTA RAV4

DROVE THE CAR 8 BLOCKS ON CITY STREET TO THE FILLING STATION, WHILE TURNING INTO THE FILLING STATION FROM ACCESS ROAD THE CAR SHUT OFF AND THE DASH WENT COMPLETELY BLACK JUST SHORT OF FUEL PUMP. STOPPED THE CAR AND RESTARTED, DROVE 50 FT. TO FUEL PUMP. SHUT CAR OFF TO FILL WITH GAS. WENT INTO STATION TO PRE-PAY FOR FUEL. RETURNED TO THE CAR, FILLED WITH FUEL AND TRIED TO START. WHEN TRYING TO START THE CAR IT WAS COMPLETELY BLACK, NO ELECTRONICS AT ALL, CALLED MY WIFE TO GET A TOW TRUCK TO HAVE IT REMOVED FROM THE GAS STATION, THEN WENT IN TO STATION TO TELL ATTENDANT THE SITUATION. WHILE EXITING THE STORE I NOTICED SPARKS AND GLOWING EMBERS DROPPING TO THE GROUND FROM INSIDE THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL AREA. I TURNED BACK AND ASKED THE STATION ATTENDANT FOR A FIRE EXTINGUISHER, RETURNED TO CAR, WITH 5 LB EXTINGUISHER, HOOD WOULD NOT RELEASE SO SPRAYED EXTINGUISHER UP UNDER WHEEL, AROUND HOOD CRACKS, AND BY THIS TIME THE HEAD LIGHT HAD A HOLE WHERE THE FLAMES WERE SHOOTING OUT, SO SPRAYED FIRE REPELLENT INTO THE HOLE. AFTER ABOUT 10 SEC EXTINGUISHER WAS EMPTY. TOLD GAS STATION ATTENDANT TO CALL FIRE DEPARTMENT AS THE VEHICLE WAS GOING UP IN FLAMES. APPROXIMATELY 5 MINUTES LATER THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED TO EXTINGUISH THE FLAMES.