I WAS STOPPED AT A LIGHT. WHEN THE LIGHT CHANGED AND I STEPPED ON THE GAS, I NOTICED A HESITATION THAT WAS NEW. ALMOST IMMEDIATELY AND VIRTUALLY SIMULTANEOUSLY, I SAW A FLAMING OBJECT IN THE STREET BEHIND ME IN MY REARVIEW MIRROR, AND ANOTHER DRIVER YELLED THAT MY CAR WAS ON FIRE. I LUCKILY WAS ABLE TO PULL IMMEDIATELY INTO AN EMPTY PARKING LOT. WHEN I STEPPED ON THE BRAKES, THE BRAKES WERE GONE. THE CAR COASTED TO A STOP, I PUT IT IN PARK, GOT OUT, GOT MY DOG OUT, AND CALLED 911. WITHIN A FEW SECONDS, THE ENTIRE ENGINE WAS IN FLAMES. TWO FIRE ENGINES RESPONDED, AND ONE OF THEM PUT OUT THE FIRE. THE CAR WAS REMOVED BY A WRECKER. WHEN I WENT TO SEE THE CAR IN THE WRECING YARD THE NEXT DAY, IT APPEARED THAT THE FIRE HAD BEEN CONCENTRATED ON THE LEFT SIDE -- THAT HEADLIGHT HAD BEEN MELTED OUT, AND THE FIRE HAD PENETRATED THE DASH ON THE LEFT SIDE. THE CAR APPEARS TO BE A TOTAL LOSS. I HAD NO WARNING THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM. TO MY KNOWLEDGE, AND I THINK I WOULD HAVE NOTICED, NO WARNING LIGHTS APPEARED ON THE DASH. I BOUGHT THIS CAR NEW FROM THE DEALER, AND HAD ALL SCEDULED AND RECOMMENDED MAINTAINANCE AND REPAIR PERFORMED AT THE DEALERSHIP. *AK