Understanding the Causes and Prevention of Common Car Fires

In 2021, around 174,000 highway vehicle fires were reported. That doesn’t include off-highway incidents or those that remained unreported to officials. Every single one of these issues has to move its way through law enforcement, insurance, and city infrastructure analysis.

Every time you turn your key or push the ignition button of your beloved ride, you run the risk of some kind of malfunction. In most cases, this will never be an issue, but in those rare cases of vehicle fires, you want to know what caused the underlying problem and who is responsible.

The good news is most car fires that occur are fairly preventable with only a little effort. The more you can uncover what happened, the better you can inform car manufacturers and insurance companies so that knowledge is passed on to drivers all over the globe. That is part of our role at Dreiym Engineering – to be the forensic experts determining what happened.

Common Causes of Car Fires

Imagine driving down the road with your kiddo in the backseat, and a sudden mechanical fault sends smoke issuing from the hood. You pull over, grab the car seat with your child inside, and get away just in time before flames start licking the interior of the car. It may seem like a scene out of a Hollywood film, but it 100% happens to drivers everywhere. Here are some of the common causes of car fires.

Mechanical Failures

Even the most advanced electric car has mechanical parts. Any time friction is built up in these components, heat begins to become an issue where combustion is not too far behind. Faulty water pumps could cause an overheated engine, malfunctioning catalytic converters could trap excessive heat, or a worn-out exhaust system could create dangerous hotspots under the car’s body.

Electrical Failures

Modern cars have complex electrical systems. Everything from infotainment systems to the automatic car lane detector you use late at night requires circuitry. If components like frayed wires, loose connections, damaged insulation, or batteries being overcharged get damaged, they can lead to car fires while you’re on the road. About three-quarters of all car fires are due to electrical or mechanical issues, according to NFPA (National Fire Protection Association).

Fuel System Leaks

Fuel systems leakage in a car fire is less common, but still a risk. The fuel used in cars is highly flammable. A few drops ending up on your engine block or some other hot surface can easily trigger a blaze. Issues like dry rot getting to the fuel lines or faulty fuel injectors mean you’ll have fuel in place you do not want it to go. Any time you smell gasoline around your vehicle, and you didn’t just fuel up at a station, you should stop your car and visually inspect it for damage.

Poor Maintenance

No one wants to be responsible for being the cause of a car fire. Unfortunately, cars require a lot of maintenance to stay safe on the road. You need to double-check for any worn-out belts, hoses, or seals. Never ignore warning lights or defer repairs because you think there isn’t an issue. Even something as simple as leaves gathering in the engine during the fall or a group of mice chewing through wires in the winter can lead to preventable vehicle fires.

Car Accidents

Roughly 36,164 car accidents happen every day across the United States. That leaves a lot of room for a wrong turn or a traffic light error leading to a vehicle fire. Then there is the damage caused by the accident itself. What may seem like a small fender bender could be a torn fuel line or crushed fuel tank. Always get a post-collision inspection to ensure you’re safe moving your vehicle.

Arson

The final cause to mention that we sometimes encounter as forensic engineers is arson. While extremely rare, people can and do set fire to vehicles for all kinds of nefarious reasons. Maybe someone wants the insurance payout of an older vehicle and sets it ablaze after claiming it is stolen. Bad relationships can also lead to arson because someone who thought tampering with the brake lines was a prank, only to actually cut a fuel line.

Prevention Strategies for Car Owners

At Dreiym Engineering, we frequently get called into legal proceedings as expert witnesses. Our ability to determine the root cause of a vehicle fire allows law enforcement, private citizens, businesses, and insurance companies to determine fault so they can collect damages.

There are many ways to prevent car fires from becoming dangerous situations. A little bit of effort in the beginning goes a long way to ensuring your safety.

• Regular Vehicle Maintenance: Always schedule maintenance on your engine, transmission, exhaust, and cooling systems. Replace any worn parts before they become a problem and stick to OEM (original equipment manufacturer) parts unless you have a specialty in knowing what will work well for after-market options.
• Address Electrical Issues: If you see your car’s dashboard lights flicker or have to replace a fuse repeatedly, you may have an electrical issue. DIY wiring jobs will not save you time or money if it leads to an electrical fire. Make sure all your wiring is correct, clean, insulated, and secure for the road.
• Monitor Fuel Systems: Fuel is needed to make your car move, but it shouldn’t be mistaken as a safe substance. Check for wet spots under your vehicle, the smell of fuel, and replace any cracked or bulging hoses before they become a leak. You can pick up a fuel additive dye if you’re worried about leaks.
• Safe Driving: Most importantly, drive safely on the road. Avoid any hard braking or over-revving, and pay attention to dashboard warning lights. The best way to avoid accidents on the road is to use your turn signal. It communicates to everyone around you where you intend to go next.
• Be Prepared: You may want to invest in Class B (flammable liquids) and Class C (electrical) fire extinguishers to keep in your trunk or floor of your backseat. Make sure you know how to shut off your systems in an emergency and how to get out of your vehicle if you detect smoke.

Having a AAA membership and double-checking a used vehicle’s history with CarFax also helps. These provide you with additional support, so if an accident happens or you are unfamiliar with the car’s operations, you can find answers.

Conclusion

So many different issues can cause car fires. They are serious risks to drivers, passengers, and people walking along the roadways of America. Do what you can to prevent car fires from happening, and always speak with your local mechanic if you suspect an issue.

Our expert team at Dreiym Engineering works with insurance companies all of the time. We work hard, leveraging our decades of experience to determine why a fire happened and who or what should be held responsible. Take it from us, you don’t want this situation to happen when you’re just trying to drive to the movies for a break from a busy week. Take precautions, and you should be well protected.