NHTSA complaint: 2017 TOYOTA CAMRY — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I WAS DRIVING IN THE HOV LANE ON THE 170 AT 6:30PM. 2/7/2020. THERE WAS A SUDDEN WHITE FLASH AND EXPLOSION. ALL OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. I COULD NOT SEE WHERE I WAS GOING. ALL I COULD SEE WAS OUT MY REAR WINDOW. I TRIED TO STEER THE CAR TO THE SIDE OF THE FREEWAY BUT IT STOPPED IN THE FAST LANE. ALL I COULD SEE WHERE CARS SWERVING TO MISS US. I DIDN'T KNOW IF MY HAZARDS COULD BE SEEN AS I COULDN'T SEE MY INSTRUMENT PANEL. SO I PUMPED THE BRAKES HOPING THE LIGHTS WERE WORKING AND THE CARS COMING COULD SEE THEM. AT THE SAME TIME, I THOUGHT THE CAR WAS ON FIRE BECAUSE MY THROAT AND LUNGS WERE BURNING. MY DAUGHTER WAS KNOCKED UNCONSCIOUS. I COULDN'T MOVE BECAUSE OF THE SEAT BELTS. WHEN SHE CAME TO SHE CALLED 911. THE FREEWAY WAS CLOSED DOWN. THE POLICE FOUND NO EVIDENCE OF US BEING HIT OR US HITTING ANYTHING. NO REPORT WAS ISSUED. THE AIRBAGS HAD TO BE CUT TO GET US OUT. WE WERE TRAPPED IN A CAR THAT WE COULDN'T TELL IF IT WAS ON FIRE OR NOT. IF IT WAS WE WOULDN'T HAVE GOTTEN OUT! THE CAR WAS DEEMED A TOTAL LOSS. I BELIEVE THERE WAS A SHORT THAT MAY HAVE CAUSED THE AIR BAGS TO GO OFF. OR THE AIRBAGS JUST WENT OFF ON THEIR OWN. I DO NOT KNOW WHAT THE WHITE LIGHT OR DEAFENING BANG WAS. I CAN ONLY CALL IT AN EXPLOSION.
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — Office of Defects Investigation