# 2000 TOYOTA CAMRY — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
> NHTSA complaint `482941` · 2004-07-06 · Toyota Motor Corporation
## Severity
- **Deaths:** 0
- **Injured:** 0
- **Fire:** Yes
- **Crash:** No
- **Police report:** Yes
- **Medical attention:** No
- **Vehicle towed:** No
## Vehicle
- **Make:** TOYOTA
- **Model:** CAMRY
- **Year:** 2000
- **Manufacturer:** Toyota Motor Corporation
- **Component:** ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
- **Miles at failure:** 102,000
- **Speed:** 65 mph
## Narrative
I PURCHASED A 2000 TOYOTA CAMRY CE (VIN # 4T1BG22KOYU962183) WITH A 4 CYLINDER ENGINE, 5 SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION IN FEBRUARY OF 2000.    FRIDAY, JULY 3, 2004 AROUND 6:15AM I WAS DRIVING THIS CAR TO WORK ON RTE 495 SOUTH IN HUDSON, MASS.  WITHOUT WARNING, I HEARD A POP UNDER THE HOOD AND SUDDENLY THERE WAS A LOUD EXPLOSION.  WHITE SMOKE WAS POURING OUT THE REAR  AND DARK SMOKE FROM UNDER THE HOOD.  I WAS DRIVING 65 MPH DOWN A STEEP GRADE, IN HEAVY TRAFFIC.  I QUICKLY BEGAN PULL INTO THE BRAKE DOWN LANE.  I APPLIED THE BRAKES BUT THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND THE CLUTCH PEDAL WAS ALSO TO THE FLOOR. I SLOWLY APPLIED THE PARKING BRAKE AND MANAGED TO GET THE CAR STOPPED. I HAD FLAMES COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND SMOKE COMING INTO THE DRIVERS COMPARTMENT.  THE TRAFFIC THAT WAS BEING BLINDED BY THE SMOKE AND THE ROAD HAD GUARDRAILS SO I COULD NOT PULL COMPLETELY OFF THE ROAD.  I WAS CONCERNED ABOUT GETTING OUT OF THE CAR INTO TRAFFIC BUT I HAD TO GET OUT QUICKLY.  I GOT AWAY FROM THE VEHICLE AND CALLED THE AUTHORITIES.  BY THE TIME THE FIRE TRUCKS ARRIVED THE FRONT OF THE CAMRY WAS FULLY ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE CAR WAS A TOTAL LOSS.    WHAT OCCURRED THAT MORNING HIT ME LATER.  I REALIZED THAT I COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED.  THANKFULLY I DID NOT PANIC AND CAUSE A BAD SITUATION TO BE WORSE.  I THOUGHT WHAT IF SOMEONE ELSE HAD BEEN DRIVING THIS CAR, MY PREGNANT DAUGHTER OR MY WIFE.   WHAT IF A FAMILY WITH A CHILD IN A CAR SEAT, A NEW YOUNGER DRIVER OR AN EL
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*Source: [NHTSA ODI](https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/downloads/) · AI Analytics · CC0 1.0*