1999 Lexus RX300

ON JANUARY 17TH, 2016, I TOOK MY '99 LEXUS RX300 TO CHURCH, PARKED THE CAR, AND JOINED THE SUNDAY SERVICE. AN HOUR AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE (DURING WHICH TIME IT WAS NOT RUNNING OR IN USE), I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM IT AND WENT OUTSIDE. WITHIN MINUTES, THE FRONT END WAS BURSTING IN FLAMES. THE FIRE DESTROYED THE ENTIRE FRONT PORTION OF THE CAR, INCLUDING THE ENGINE, TRANSMISSION, TIRES, AND DASHBOARD. I DON'T KNOW WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN THE CAUSE; IT WAS SEEMINGLY RANDOM.

WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AFTER APPROXIMATELY 5 HOURS ON THE ROAD, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE DROPPING MELTING, BURNING DEBRIS ONTO THE ROADWAY. THE CAR HAD 16,000 MILES AT THE TIME. A PLASTIC "UNDER ENGINE COVER" AND TWO VACUUM HOSES WERE DESTROYED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO SAID THERE WAS NO RESPONSIBILITY ON THEIR PART FOR THE FIRE OR DAMAGE. THEY SUGGESTED A PLASTIC BAG OR SIMILAR OBJECT BLEW UP FROM THE ROADWAY SETTING THE VEHICLE COMPONENTS ON FIRE. ANOTHER SUGGESTION WAS THAT A SERVICE PERSON LEFT SOMETHING IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE VEHICLE HADN'T BEEN SERVICED FOR ALMOST 4 MONTHS AND HAD BEEN DRIVEN OVER 1000 MILES SINCE THE LAST SERVICE. NO SIGNS OF BURNING WERE FOUND ON OTHER ENGINE COMPONENTS. WE DON'T BELIEVE THAT THE DEALER'S EXPLANATION OF A PIECE OF TRASH BLOWN UNDERNEATH THE CAR SHOULD SET VEHICLE COMPONENTS ON FIRE AND SUSPECT A POSSIBLE DEFECT IN DESIGN OR CONSTRUCTION.*AK