I WAS DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY WHEN AN ALERT APPEARED ON MY DASHBOARD: "ENGINE ERROR 1"--- AND, I NOTICED MY BATTERY LIGHT WAS ON. IMMEDIATELY, THE VEHICLE SLOWED, BUT I WAS ABLE TO EEK TO AN EXIT AND STOP ON THE SIDE OF THE FRONTAGE ROAD. I TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE. AS I CALLED FOR A TOW TRUCK, I NOTICED SMOKE SLOWLY WAFTING FROM BENEATH THE HOOD, NEAR THE WINDSHIELD...AND THEN I SPOTTED AN ORANGE FLAME. I QUICKLY EXITED THE VEHICLE AND CALLED 911. AFTER THE FIREMEN STOPPED THE FIRE, I SAW THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE, ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE, HAD MELTED AWAY.