# 2015 ACURA MDX — UNKNOWN OR OTHER
> NHTSA complaint `1332571` · 2016-11-08 · 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:** ACURA
- **Model:** MDX
- **Year:** 2015
- **Manufacturer:** Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
- **Component:** UNKNOWN OR OTHER
- **Miles at failure:** 12,000
- **Speed:** 65 mph
## Narrative
WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY (MORNING TRAFFIC MOVING AT SPEED LIMIT - 65-70 MPH) I SMELLED SMOKE.  IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THIS THERE WAS A THUD AND THEN THE CHECK ENGINE, LDW AND OTHER LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH, ALONG WITH AUDIBLE ALARM SOUND.  SMOKE WAS NOW VISIBLE, COMING FROM THE ENGINE (UNDER THE HOOD).  I WAS ABLE TO MOVE FROM THE MIDDLE LANE TO THE RIGHT LANE/EXIT LANE AS I KNEW I NEEDED TO PULL OVER IMMEDIATELY.  SINCE I WAS IN AN EXIT LANE THERE WAS NO REAL SHOULDER AND I STARTED DOWN THE EXIT RAMP.  THE SMOKE WAS VERY STRONG AT THIS POINT.  I WENT TO DEPRESS THE BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN ON THE EXIT RAMP AND TRY TO PULL THE CAR OVER BUT I HAD NO BRAKES.  THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT RIGHT TO THE FLOOR.  I HAD LIMITED STEERING CONTROL AND WAS DRIVING ERRATICALLY TRYING TO KEEP CONTROL OF THE CAR WHILE ON THE EXIT RAMP.  I TRIED TO PUT THE TRANSMISSION IN PARK - NO EFFECT TO SLOW THE CAR.  I TRIED TO POWER THE CAR OFF - DID NOT WORK.  I HAD TO DEPRESS THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP THE CAR.  IT TOOK OVER 100 FEET TO STOP THE CAR (LUCKILY NO OTHER CARS ON THE EXIT RAMP) AT WHICH POINT I COULD PULL OVER ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD.  AT THIS POINT THERE WAS SMOKE BILLOWING OUT OF THE ENGINE AREA, SMOKE COMING IN TO THE CAR.  I CALLED 911 AND THEY RESPONDED IN ABOUT 5 MINUTES.  AFTER I GOT A SAFE DISTANCE FROM THE CAR I COULD SEE FLAMES COMING FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE ENGINE.  FROM THERE I COULD SEE THE FIRE START TO GROW IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND ONCE THE FIRE DEPT ARRIVED IT WAS ENGULF
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*Source: [NHTSA ODI](https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/downloads/) · AI Analytics · CC0 1.0*