# 1997 LEXUS LEXUS — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
> NHTSA complaint `329737` · 2002-01-10 · Toyota Motor Corporation
## Severity
- **Deaths:** 0
- **Injured:** 0
- **Fire:** Yes
- **Crash:** No
- **Police report:** Yes
- **Medical attention:** No
- **Vehicle towed:** No
## Vehicle
- **Make:** LEXUS
- **Model:** LEXUS
- **Year:** 1997
- **Manufacturer:** Toyota Motor Corporation
- **Component:** ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
## Narrative
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
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*Source: [NHTSA ODI](https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/downloads/) · AI Analytics · CC0 1.0*