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1999 LEXUS RX300 — SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

fire · 634399 · 2007-08-14

Vehicle

Make
LEXUS
Model
RX300
Year
1999
Manufacturer
Toyota Motor Corporation
Component
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
Miles at failure
85,000

Severity

Deaths
0
Injured
0
Fire
Yes
Crash
No
Police report
Yes
Medical attention
No
Vehicle towed
No

Narrative

AUTOMOBILE WAS A PERFECTLY FUNCTIONING 1999 CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED LEXUS RX300 UNDER A BUMPER TO BUMPER 'NEW CAR WARRANTY'. AUTO WAS CONSISTENTLY SERVICED BY LEXUS OF PALM BEACH. THE AUTOMOBILE WAS CONSUMED BY 20 FT. FLAMES IN ABOUT 15 MINUTES WHILE PARKED IN OUR DRIVEWAY SHORTLY AFTER MIDNIGHT. THE GARAGE WAS ABOUT 6 FT. AWAY AND CAUGHT FIRE. FORTUNATELY A NEIGHBORS DOG AWOKE THEM AND THE FIREMEN ARRIVED TO PUT THE FINAL CAR FLAMES OUT AND STOP THE FIRE ON THE GARAGE. WE SLEPT THROUGH THE ENTIRE INCIDENT AND WERE AWOKEN BY A FIREMAN. THE EXACT CAUSE IS STILL A MYSTERY. THE ARSON INVESTIGATOR RULED OUT ARSON, THE RESPONDING FIRE CHIEF RULED OUT WEATHER RELATED CAUSES. BOTH THE ARSON AND THE INSURANCE INVESTIGATORS DETERMINED THE IGNITION POINT AT THE REAR LEFT TIRE. BOTH CONCLUDED THAT POSSIBLY AN OVER HEATED BRAKE WAS TO BLAME. I AND THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT AT TOYOTA MOTOR SALES AGREE THAT THIS EXPLANATION IS IMPOSSIBLE SINCE THE CAR HAD NOT BEEN DRIVEN IN TWO DAYS AND IT RAINED HEAVILY DURING THOSE TWO DAYS. I HAVE ENCOURAGED THEM TO DO THEIR OWN INVESTIGATION. TO DATE NO RESPONSE. THREE MONTHS HAVE ELAPSED AND LEXUS HAS SHOWN NO INTEREST IN THIS MATTER. I AM ESPECIALLY CONCERNED FOR THE SAFETY OF SMALL CHILDREN WHEN FLAMES CAN ERUPT SO UNEXPECTEDLY AND CONSUME A CAR SO QUICKLY. ON OUR STREET OF 34 HOUSES THERE ARE AT LEAST 10 OTHER LEXUS OWNERS. ONE HAS CONFIDED THAT HE PARKS HIS CAR FURTHER FROM THE GARAGE NOW AS A RESULT OF WHAT HE WITNESSED. HE ALSO IS THE FATHE

Source

Authoritative
NHTSA ODI Flat-File Downloads
ODI Number
10199576
Machine
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