This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
I was going to my cousins graduation and had asked an officer about parking when he directed me where to go when I turned I heard a pop and smoke started coming from under the hood and it caught fire. The fire department was called out and the fire was put out. My car was towed to a towing yard, and the next day towed to my property. Everything in engine compartment burned. I had it looked at by a mechanic and he said that it was probably an electrical fire.
Drove home from work. Parked car in private lot. Approxamately ten minutes later. Neighborhood kids notified me that the car was smoking. Upon responding. I noticed that the car had flames coming from underneath engine and hood area. Called fire department. The fire department stated that it was an electrical fire. Car was totaled. The power steering hose ( part # 4764-347A / 0777C/ 25517 df 3251 3/8" id # 03067F1) ruptured and leaked onto the exhaust pipe manifold and ignited the power steering fluid stating the fire. I personally noted the smell of power steering fluid coming from vehicle.
Engine started smelling like burnt rubber, also started smoking, hearing electrical popping noise and then engine started burning with the glow of flames coming from under and out of the engine hood compartment. My children and I jumped out of the car crying and very excited, truamatized by the sole fact of maybe getting burned up in the car or blown up. I then, without haste, went to my apt. And dialed the police at "911" and was dispatched over to the fire department. After, approximately 10 mins., the fire department arrived and extinghised the fire and made their report and speaking with me about the turn of events prior to the fire.
Ins. Adjusted unable to detect cause of fire which burned my car to the ground. Total loss!! took fire dept 35 minutes to arrive. Nothing left but the shell! car was parked and turned off!
Consumer's brother started vehicle up to drive vehicle over to consumer's house. In process of driving, smoke coming from underneath. Consumer smelled the smoke. Backseat started to evaporate. Everything that was inside off vehicle was demolished. The clogged exhaust system caused the engine to blow out.
- Milwaukee, WI, USA
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Upon being struck in the left front wheel well, near the battery, my car bursted into flames. The vehicle continued to travel another 200 feet desipite various methods of application of the brakes. I then deployed the emergency brake. The vehicle didn't stop until the power cut off and the finally died.
Parked vehicle in garage and went into the house, about 5 minutes later heard a loud noise, went out to the garage and flames were coming from underneath the hood of the vehicle. Had to pull the vehicle from the garage into the open. Called the fire department and they put fire out. Fireman stated that it was an electrical fire, and the vehicle was totaled.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Mcdonough, GA, USA