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2 Common Types of Defects That Cause Vehicle Fires

Anyone who survives a car crash should not perish in a fire caused by that accident. But the reality is that post-collision fires do occur, and they’re often the result of two types of defects.

Fuel system and vehicle fire issues have been reported in all types of vehicles, including Acura, BMW, Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Dodge, Ford, General Motors (GM), GMC, Honda, Hyundai, Jaguar, Jeep, Kia, Lincoln, Mazda, Mercedes Benz, Mercury, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Oldsmobile, Plymouth, Pontiac, Porsche, Saturn, Toyota, and Volkswagen (VW).

Defect #1: Post-Collision Fuel Fed Fires (PCFFF). These fires that break out following an accident are due to the compromise of the vehicle’s gas tank and fuel system.

For example, the gas lines rupture during an accident, allowing gas to spray over a hot ignition source, creating a fire that rapidly consumes the vehicle and its occupants. In other situations, vehicle components move during a crash and puncture the gas tank or fuel lines. This triggers a fuel leak, often leading to a fireball that spreads so quickly that escape from the vehicle is virtually impossible.

Defect #2: The components are not designed to minimize the risk of a fire spreading. Vehicle components should be designed so they reduce the risk of a fire spreading to the passenger compartment. This is accomplished by using an adequate firewall between the engine and passenger compartments, as well as proper material selection and an appropriate test program. Failure to implement such features can lead to tragic consequences (see our Representative Cases page for more information).

For example, although a vehicle’s firewall should be properly designed to minimize the risk of a fire spreading, some full-size vans use a plastic engine cover in an attempt to seal the hole in the firewall caused by the engine being positioned partially in the passenger compartment. When the engine cover comes loose in an accident, the firewall is compromised, creating an opening for fire to spread into the passenger compartment.

If you think a vehicle fire you or a love one experienced may have been caused by a motor vehicle defect, please contact us today at (407) 804-1300 or (888) 834-5297.