THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH. I HAD BEEN DRIVING FOR 15 MINUTES. I LOST POWER AT THE DASHBOARD, LOST POWER STEERING, AND THE ENGINE STOPPED RUNNING. I COASTED TO A SIDE STREET AND STOPPED THE CAR. I OPENED THE HOOD, AND DISCOVERED A FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE BATTERY CABLE CLOSEST TO THE ENGINE WAS ON FIRE, AND HAD MELTED ONE CORNER OF THE BATTERY. A PASSERBY HELPED EXTINGUISH THE FIRE, AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED TO INSPECT AND MAKE SURE THE FIRE WAS OUT. EARLIER THAT DAY, THE VEHICLE STALLED IN THE SAME WAY WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH IN A PARKING LOT, BUT THE POWER CAME BACK IN A FEW SECONDS. IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING THAT WAS A 1-HOUR DRIVE AT INTERSTATE HIGHWAY SPEEDS WITH NO TROUBLES.