2000 Toyota Camry: fire, smoke or burning smell

Filed Nov 22, 2018 · Electrical, Engine · 95,000 miles · PA · fire

2000 toyota camry caught on fire august 7th, 2018. I was driving on a city street and my radio kept going on and off while driving, I noticed the check engine light came on so I pulled into a parking lot and parked the car. I turned off the car and started to smell smoke. I opened the hood and the engine compartment was on fire on the right side near the battery. I was able to get a fire extinguisher and put the fire out but I have significant damage. I have not seen a recall on this issue but my car should not start on fire. I submitted a claim to toyota (claim# 180808-000043) asking if there is a technical bulletin. Toyota sent their inspector and he noted the starter failed to disengage from flywheel causing fire. The starter kept running burning it out and also burning the positive cable to the battery. Toyota did not share a copy of the report with me. The damage was severe enough to write off the car with only 95,000 miles on it. This needs to be investigated. Why would my car starter catch on fire like this?

Filed Sep 5, 2017 · Acceleration · 221,000 miles · NJ · fire

While driving the car at about 40 MPH on the road, it suddenly accelerated . I applied the brake and the car kept going at the accelerated speed for about 3/4 mile. It finally slowed enough for me to turn off the road into a housing complex. I then was able to put it in park. The car kept idling at the same rate even while in park position. Smoke started coming from under the hood; therefore, I got out and within 1 minute, it went up in flames. The police & fire truck came and put out the flames. The car is a total loss.

Filed Jun 3, 2010 · Electrical · 128,147 miles · CA · fire

Tl* the contact owns a 2000 toyota camry. He stated there was an irregular noise coming from the engine while driving at unknown speeds. The contact shut off the engine and removed the keys from the ignition,however the engine continued running for approximately five minutes before shutting off.. In addition, he noticed smoke coming from under the hood. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where they advised him that the starter remained engaged when the contact shut off the engine and the started needed to be replaced. The starter was replaced at the contact's expense. The failure and current mileage were 128,147. Updated 10/27/10.

Filed Apr 13, 2010 · Acceleration · 72,000 miles · CA · crash · fire · 1 injury

Tl*the contact owns a 2000 toyota camry. The contact stated that the vehicle suddenly accelerated while he was driving at approximately 30 MPH and crashed into an electrical pole and caught fire. The contact suffered injuries and was taken to the hospital. A police report was filed. The vehicle was totaled. The current and failure mileages were approximately 72,000. Updated 07/19/10*bf updated 07/21/10*jb updated 0730/10 *bf 09/23/10*jb updated 01/14/11 *bf the consumer stated a forensic expert found the accident was caused by a malfunction in the gas pedal. Updated 01/19/11 updated 03/31/11

Filed Feb 25, 2010 · Engine · 145,000 miles · TN

My toyota camry 2000 motor blew up while driving 55 MPH in dec, 2009. Oil light came on just moments before it started knocking. No check engine light came on. No warning. In aug 2009 my check oil light came on and I took it into toyota. They said it was just my gas cap. It came on again the next day, I took it back to toyota, I told them I smelled a burning smell. They said nothing was wrong with my car. I took it back a third time and told them something was wrong. They said I could maybe use a new oil cap and perhaps use a new belt but nothing was wrong with my car. My check engine light never came on again. (I believe they disconnected it.) when my engine blew in dec. 2009, I had it towed to toyota. They informed me my oil had gelled and it would be about $5,000 to fix it. I told them I got my oil changed every 3 to 4 thousand miles. I did not wait till the 5,000 mile mark like it said to in my toyota handbook. They said sometimes it just happens madam. Toyota refused to pay to fix it.

Filed Feb 23, 2010 · Engine · 105,000 miles · MA · fire

Engine caught on fire and car was declared totaled. I was driving in my neighborhood when I smelled horrible burning odor. I put window down to see if someone was burning brush outside. Once window was down, smoke started to pour into driver's compartment, and then I saw the smoke from under the hood of the engine. I immediately pulled onto side street, shut off car, grabbed purse and keys, and ran. Person in street told me car was on fire, which I hadn't been able to see, because the flames were pouring out from under the engine onto the street. I ran and called 911 from cell phone. Two fire trucks came within 5 minutes, and it took them 20 minutes to put out the fire. The engine was totally melted down. I could have died as a result of fumes or being burned and was lucky I wasn't on a highway at high speeds.

Filed May 26, 2008 · Acceleration, Airbags · 24,000 miles · CA · crash · fire · 1 injury

05-23-2008 at 5:35pm my car was severe damaged b/c of sa at near completed stop in the parking space-parking lot of po 90027 during daylight&normal weather cond.I am an original owner- 24,000miles. Aaa replaced battery 04-17-08-circuit/amper recorded;all parts are original toyota. The parking lot po90027 is narrow u-turn,was parking at the entrance. Halfway in the parking space=2' before the parking concrete guard=heard a pop sound,car flew over the parking guard&sidewalk curb into the brick wall of po,ricocheted&stopped 1'away. Heavy white smoke came out from the hood at the windshield, deployed airbags w/terrible heat,windshield cracked at the airbags heat/touch points-a burn skin on my left arm through 2thick clothing,engine was running! Pull out key,got out from car b/c expected exposion/fire.instantly 2postal empl.came out to help,checked po brick wall,asked my name-handled them my parcel w/prepaid postage-name/address.killing attempt was total 5-6'-not enough for the fatal force,my foot was pressing parking pedal,already w/unbuckled seatbelt-my right knee has only a bump-not fractured. 20'later my car half sitting on the sidewalk-smoke is gone, sml leak under hood/radiator? Started car,w/withness slowly reversed it frm sidewalk/guard-car was conrolled fine despite of deployed airbags-pushed wipers/washer,drove back home/underground garage-1 mile w/2-3 stops. Recalled that a week ago had sa w/out pressing pedal,happened on sunset blvd,got surprised w/high speed so slow down. Both times the distance before sa was 1mile frm the start,time~5min.this is engine control malfunction.05-24-08 at 4 pm went to hollywood toyota-asked for service person in charge-referred to patrick.earlier rcvd toyota gel notice w/my vn,was told by patrick to have the body fixed first.after the bodyjob bring my car for the engine check $99/hourly pls help to fully investigate this accident-live in la w/heavy traffic.thanks god did not kill anybody.thank you for your cooperation.

Filed Jan 13, 2008 · Acceleration · 86,839 miles · CA · crash · 1 injury

I purchased a previously owned 2000 toyota camry on 11/4/07. While driving from northern california to southern california on the loss date I activated the cruise control feature. Traffic on the freeway began to slow and I depressed the brake pedal to slow the vehicle. Traffic began moving again then suddenly stopped. I again depressed the brake pedal but the car seemed to accelerate even though I had both of my feet on the brake pedal. My car crashed into the rear of a vehicle in front of mine causing both air bags in my vehicle to deploy. The crash impact jammed the driver's door preventing it from opening, trapping me in the car with smoke pouring from under the hood. Initially the electric window would not open but finally did allowing me to extricate myself from the damaged vehicle.

Filed Sep 29, 2004 · Engine · 143,000 miles · CA

The vehicle has white smoke when starting car. Car is parked inside garage when not in use.hite smoke coming form muffler/tail pipe. Toyota tech. Suggested that customer replace stem seals at customers expense.

Filed Jul 6, 2004 · Electrical · 24,000 miles · CT · fire

Upon slowing down to exit the highway, there was a loud bang from the engine. The consumer pulled over to the shoulder. Then smoke started coming from under the hood, and flames were underneath the vehicle. The fire department was contacted and extinguished the fire. The vehicle was totaled. The vehicle is currently at the insurance company. They are inspecting the vehicle to determine the cause of the fire. *ak

Filed Jul 6, 2004 · Engine · 102,000 miles · NH · fire

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 elderly person was driving? I consider myself lucky to walk away uninjured. Someone else might have been another story. I dont know what caused this to occur, I took good care of this vehicle. My insurance company, travelers casualty company of connecticut, is handling the settlement. I thought it was important to let you know of this failure. I had found that there was an investigation into camry fires a while ago. Please contact me if you need more details. William hovey.

Filed Feb 11, 2004 · Brakes, Electrical · CA · fire

Consumer felt something shoot through the bottom of vehicle and out of the tail pipe. Then, brake pedal went to the floor. Driver has to use hand brake to stop. Driver got out of vehicle, and vehicle caught on fire.