NHTSA Complaint #767105 — 1999 TOYOTA CAMRY SOLARA

ON MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 2 THE DRIVER SIDE LIGHTED MIRROR ON THE VISOR FELL OFF CAUSING THE TWO WIRES BEHIND THE LIGHTED MIRROR TO COME LOOSE AND CONTACT EACH OTHER. THIS PROCEEDED TO SHORT OUT FILLING THE CARS CABIN WITH SMOKE. THE CAR WAS STOPPED IMMEDIATELY ON A LOCAL ROAD, TURNED OFF AND BOTH MY WIFE AND 21-MONTH OLD SON WERE QUICKLY REMOVED FROM THE CAR. I WAS NOTIFIED OF THIS OCCURRENCE BY A LOCAL NEIGHBOR AND UPON MY ARRIVAL SAW A VERY FRIGHTENED WIFE HOLDING MY 21-MONTH OLD SON AND A SMOKE FILLED CAR. UPON RESTARTING THE CAR TO RETURN BACK TO MY HOME THE CAR IMMEDIATELY BEGAN TO MAKE A VERY LOUD WHINING SOUND. AFTER ARRIVING BACK AT MY HOME APPROXIMATELY 1 MINUTE AWAY I TURNED OFF THE ENGINE ONLY TO FIND THAT THE ENGINE WOULD NOT SHUT OFF. I THEN IMMEDIATELY OPENED THE HOOD AND BEGAN TO DISCONNECT THE POSITIVE SIDE OF THE BATTERY. IN THE APPROXIMATE 2 MINUTES THIS TOOK, THE ENGINE PROGRESSIVELY WHINED LOUDER AND LOUDER UNTIL THE STARTER BEGAN TO SMOKE AND THE ENGINE CAME TO AN ABRUPT STOP. AT THIS POINT I FINALLY DISCONNECTED THE POSITIVE SIDE OF THE BATTERY.