[Bmh]

I was involved in a accident that resulted in a car fire. Two weeks ago I was hit on the right side while going north in the left lane. I was forced into the south bound lane at 35 mph hitting the curb of the median with my front right side. The airbags deployed. My 4 kids and I were able to get out of the car minutes before it was engulfed in flames. Witnesses told the fire department they saw us exiting the vehicle while the vehicle was starting to catch fire. I had a 2019 Chrysler Pacifica touring l plus S series with all the safety tech and features it has to offer. I bought it a year ago with 15k on it regular maintenance at the Chrysler dealership with 38k on it before the accident.

All the doors (minus the passenger front) were working and opened fine. Even the automatic doors worked for us to get out.

I don’t have pictures of the before (while on fire) just after. Since my 4 kids and I literally left everything in the vehicle and ran towards a apartment complex not far.

Specs - 2019 Chrysler Pacifica Touring L Plus S series
38k during accident
Entertainment package DVD players behind
both driver seats.
Safety package including 360 cameras, forward collision, adaptive cruise control, lane assist, auto park in parallel and perpendicular.

 

[CANADAHYBRIDGUY]

Glad everybody is okay . It’s only a car that can ge replaced through insurance, just be thankful you and kids are good .

 

[Bmh]

Glad everybody is okay . It’s only a car that can ge replaced through insurance, just be thankful you and kids are good .

Thank you! Oh I am my kids and I are definitely suffering from some ptsd, but we are all alive and well.

 

[CrySlurGuy]

Thanks for posting your story and aftermath photos. Thankfully you remained conscious and didn’t sustain serious disabling injuries that could of delayed or even worse, prevented your safe escape. Your well warranted PTSD will fade in time, but unfortunately occasionally reoccur in your dreams (especially when your kids start driving on their own some day!). Many years of experience, engineering, design and testing have gone into modern vehicles and crash safety ratings reflect that. Pacificas have excellent such ratings, but any vehicle can catch fire under the right circumstances. You can always buy another one and use this experience many times over to teach your kids. So, happy new car shopping “Hero Mom” for keeping your wits about you while taking immediate action to get both you and your kids safely out and away from the crash scene after you smelled the smoke !

 

[CANADAHYBRIDGUY]

Thank you! Oh I am my kids and I are definitely suffering from some ptsd, but we are all alive and well.

Time heals all wounds my friend , just make sure you hug them extra tight .

 

[Bmh]

Time heals all wounds my friend , just make sure you hug them extra tight .

Thank you for reminding me that and I will!

 

[Bmh]

Thanks for posting your story and aftermath photos. Thankfully you remained conscious and didn’t sustain serious disabling injuries that could of delayed or even worse, prevented your safe escape. Your well warranted PTSD will fade in time, but unfortunately occasionally reoccur in your dreams (especially when your kids start driving on their own some day!). Many years of experience, engineering, design and testing have gone into modern vehicles and crash safety ratings reflect that. Pacificas have excellent such ratings, but any vehicle can catch fire under the right circumstances. You can always buy another one and use this experience many times over to teach your kids. So, happy new car shopping “Hero Mom” for keeping your wits about you while taking immediate action to get both you and your kids safely out and away from the crash scene after you smelled the smoke !

Thanks, but the real hero was my Oldest (12yrs old) she was sitting in the seat behind me and reacted so fast by unbuckling her baby sisters in the third row. She grabbed one and I grabbed the other and we ran. I say babies, but they are 3 & 4.
For crash safety I would say it did it’s job.

 

[Baron]

Glad everyone is OK. I’m curious, what do you plan to replace it with. Did the outcome (fire) effect your decision? Someone earlier commented that cars catch fire now & then. No, they don’t just randomly catch fire and should not from a 35 Mph collision. This would give me serious pause about the Pacifica. Collisions are one thing - fire is a whole different ballgame and I’d want to know exactly why and how it caught fire instead of shrugging it off as just something that happens now and then.

 

[Bmh]

Glad everyone is OK. I’m curious, what do you plan to replace it with. Did the outcome (fire) effect your decision? Someone earlier commented that cars catch fire now & then. No, they don’t just randomly catch fire and should not from a 35 Mph collision. This would give me serious pause about the Pacifica. Collisions are one thing - fire is a whole different ballgame and I’d want to know exactly why and how it caught fire instead of shrugging it off as just something that happens now and then.

I haven’t replaced it yet due to having two other vehicles. I definitely will not be replacing it with another Pacifica. I don’t know what I want to be honest because just like ever other vehicle there are the flaw. Thank you for reminding me cars do not just start fire!! It didn’t just catch fire it exploded (twice). It sounded like a gun went off. I was trying to avoid the median curb and clipped it with the front right tire. A tiny curb at that…
according to the fire department, who was first on scene less than 8 mins later the minivan was fully engulfed in flames stated

Ignition

Engine area, running gear, wheel area
Area of Fire Origin

Heat, spark from friction
Heat Source

Flammable liquid/gas - in/from engine or burner
Item First Ignited

Cooking oil, transformer or lubricating oil
Type of Material First Ignited


Cause of Ignition
Failure of equipment or heat source

Factors Contributing to Ignition
1. Misuse of material or product, other

Human factors
None