There's rarely a single cause for any given car fire, even if investigating crews can trace all the way back to the incident that sparked the blaze. What's more likely is that it was caused by a combination of things: human error, mechanical issues and chemical sources. And these may have all worked together to create a fire.
In other words, once a vehicle's on fire, any number of additional factors can (and will) complicate things. Knowing what those factors are can potentially help you avoid a dangerous situation.
The most important thing to remember is that once a vehicle is ablaze, it really doesn't matter what caused it. Don't worry about whether the engine was overheating or what fluid you might have spilled (although that information might be useful later, for insurance purposes or to help an auto manufacturer fix a potential flaw). If your car is on fire, get out fast and get as far away from the car as possible.
A small car fire isn't going to stay small for long, and any combination of the initial causes (or complications) we'll discuss in this article will quickly make the situation much, much worse.
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) says that vehicle fires account for nearly one in every eight reported fires, so it's worth knowing how to reduce some of the risk in your own. With that in mind, let's take a look at ten common causes.
Contents
- Design Flaws
- Poor Maintenance
- Car Crashes
- Arson
- Hybrid and Electric Vehicle Batteries
- Overheating Catalytic Converters
- Overheating Engines
- Spilled Fluids
- Electrical System Failures
- Fuel System Leaks
10: Design Flaws
A design flaw in a vehicle usually isn't going to cause a car fire on its own, because there's no on/off switch for lighting a vehicle ablaze. The U.S. Fire Administration estimates that fewer than 1 percent of car fires are due to design flaws. Usually, the manufacturers catch these before incidents become widespread. They issue recalls to get the dangerous cars off the street and fix the problems.
Not all design flaws result in car fires, but any number of problems can make fires a lot more likely. Though some recent incidents will be used as specific examples on the following pages, it's worth noting that since 2012, most major car companies have recalled a total of almost 10 million vehicles — both gasoline- and electric-powered, due to a fire hazard.
9: Poor Maintenance
Human error probably isn't going to be the direct cause of a fire in your vehicle — after all, being lazy isn't quite the same as striking a match and tossing it into the gas tank. But if you're sloppy about maintenance, your car may be more dangerous in general, and the increased likelihood of a car fire is just part of the greater risks you're taking. The U.S. Fire Administration found that mechanical failure was the leading cause of car fires.
Forgetting or neglecting to properly take care of your car can indirectly lead to a fire. That's because if you let broken parts, leaky seals or faulty wiring go without repairs, they can make your car a lot more hospitable to the conditions that cause fires. This is especially true for older and vintage cars.
An engine with a bad gasket is more likely to drip hazardous — and flammable — fluids. Just over 20 percent of car fires can be traced to electrical failure or malfunction. So just pop the hood every now and then and take a cursory look around for leaks and frayed wires.