# 2005 HONDA ELEMENT — VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
> NHTSA complaint `1051597` · 2014-04-01 · Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
## Severity
- **Deaths:** 0
- **Injured:** 0
- **Fire:** Yes
- **Crash:** No
- **Police report:** No
- **Medical attention:** No
- **Vehicle towed:** No
## Vehicle
- **Make:** HONDA
- **Model:** ELEMENT
- **Year:** 2005
- **Manufacturer:** Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
- **Component:** VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
- **Miles at failure:** 163,000
- **Speed:** 25 mph
## Narrative
I WAS DRIVING ON A BUSY STREET, QUITE SLOW (ABOUT 20-25 MPH) AND SMOKE STARTED TO BILLOW OUT OF MY DRIVERS SIDE DOOR.  THE SMOKE WAS COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE SWITCHES WHICH CONTROL MY WINDOWS.  THE SMOKE GOT PROGRESSIVELY WORSE IN A VERY SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME (30 SECONDS - 1 MINUTE).  I WAS UNABLE TO OPEN MY WINDOWS TO LET THE BLACK SMOKE OUT.  I OPENED MY CAR DOOR WHILE I DROVE INTO THE FIRST PARKING LOT I SAW.  AS SOON AS I PARKED, I COULD SEE FLAMES UNDER THE WINDOW SWITCHES, WHICH MELTED THE PLASTIC AND CAUSED THE FLAMES TO GET LARGER.  I WAS ABLE TO SMOLDER THE FIRE WITH A JACKET WHILE WAITING FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.  A FIRE CLAIM WAS FILED.  MY CAR WAS TOWED, SINCE THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ADVISED ME NOT TO DRIVE IT.  I AM NOW AWAITING WORD FROM THE MECHANIC IT WAS TOWED TO.  I WORK FOR A HOME HEALTH CARE AGENCY, AND HAVE TO TRANSPORT SMALL OXYGEN TANKS ON OCCASION.  I HAD ONE IN MY CAR AT THE TIME AND THIS ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTION COULD HAVE BEEN DEADLY.  *TR
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*Source: [NHTSA ODI](https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/downloads/) · AI Analytics · CC0 1.0*