I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 70MPH WITH ONE OTHER PERSON IN THE VEHICLE, WHEN THERE WAS A COMBINATION OF WHIRRING, CLICKING, AND BANGING SOUNDS FROM THE ENGINE. AS WE PULLED OFF ON THE EXIT IT SOUNDED AS IF PARTS WERE FALLING OUT FROM UNDER THE CAR, BUT WHEN WE LOOKED IN THE REAR VIEW MIRROR THERE WAS NO DEBRIS ON THE ROAD. WHEN WE PULLED INTO THE REST AREA AND PARKED THE CAR TO CHECK IT OUT AND BEGIN THE PROCESS OF GETTING A TOW TRUCK BEFORE THE CAR HAD US STRANDED AND BROKE DOWN, SMOKE BEGAN OMITTING FROM THE HOOD AND IT GOT THICKER AND FLAMES BEGAN COMING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD MAINLY ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE CAR UNTIL IT HAD SPREAD TO BOTH SIDES AND BEGAN TRAVELING INTO THE CABIN OF THE CAR. CAR WAS IN GOOD SHAPE, WITH ONLY A NEED FOR AN OIL CHANGE WHEN THE PROBLEM AND FIRE BEGAN. FIRE CREWS ARRIVED AND PUT OUT THE FIRE. ENGINE LIGHT DID TURN ON AND AND START BLINKING AS WE GOT ON THE EXIT RAMP. CAR WAS TURNED OFF AT THE TIME THE SMOKE AND FIRE BEGAN. MOST OF THE DAMAGE SUSTAINED WAS ON THE DRIVES SIDE OF THE CABIN AND ALL OF THE FRONT OF THE CAR AND ENGINE AREA. WHILE WE UNDERSTAND THIS COULD BE SOMETHING UNRELATED TO A MANUFACTURER DEFAULT, WE WANT TO BE SURE THAT WE TAKE THE CORRECT STEPS SINCE A CAR THAT WAS ONLY 3 YEARS OLD DID BURST INTO FLAMES.
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — Office of Defects Investigation