After numerous visits to the authorized Subaru dealership in the 3 weeks prior to the catastrophic event for a problematic symptom described (car shakes/shudders upon acceleration, engine pinging and pre-detonation) I was commuting to work. Weather conditions were clear, sunny, and an approximate temperature of 65 degrees. I was heading eastbound on California State Route 210, at approximately 9am when I began to experience the aforementioned car troubles (car shakes/shudders upon acceleration, engine pinging and pre-detonation), when shortly thereafter I heard a boom/pop sound. As the boom/pop sound was something new I had not yet experienced, I began to exit the freeway lanes towards the shoulder when thick smoke immediately entered the cabin. I was trying to get over as quickly as possible, when at this point (within 5-10 seconds of smoke) I witnessed flames exiting from under the hood cowl and above windshield. I tried to find the safest spot I could to pull over, exited the vehicle, immediately removed my children’s car seats (there were no children present, I was merely reacting out of instinct), and sought safety away from the vehicle. Within 1 minute, the interior of the cars cabin was totally overtaken by flames, and in the next couple minutes, nearly the entire car was engulfed flames.

I have paperwork showing that the authorized Subaru mechanic did indeed experience the issue on a test drive. The recommended fix was to update the computers ecm...one week later, the car had the same problem. The Subaru dealer then had the car for another week in order to try to replicate the problem; they unfortunately unable to do so. Since they could not replicate the problem, they gave me back the car and said that if/when the issue arises again, to bring the car back. Less than 4 days later, the above incident occurred.