Although car fires are a common spectacle seen in movies, they aren’t exactly as common in real life as you might think. Nevertheless, it’s still something you should take note of during your trips.
In most cases, car fires occur due to a combination of factors rather than a single cause, making it hard to pinpoint an exact cause for a car going up in flames. From human error to mechanical faults, a plethora of reasons can cause your car to burst into flames. Determining the reasons behind a car fire can greatly help with your insurance.
However, if you start seeing smoke coming out from under the hood, don’t try to play detective and figure out what went wrong. Instead, pull over immediately and get as far as possible from your car. Safety always comes first!
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1. Poor Maintenance
Did you know that mechanical failure is responsible for almost half of all car fires?
That’s right. With poor maintenance being one of the leading causes of car fires, it’s crucial to make sure your car is well-maintained so it doesn’t suddenly go up in flames. The less care your vehicle gets, the bigger the chances are of your vehicle catching fire!
Luckily, you can avoid this by doing regular preventative maintenance. By keeping up with your maintenance schedule, you can ensure your car’s hoses, seals, engine temperature, and electrical wiring are in good shape.
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2. Design Flaws
In some cases, it’s still possible for your car to catch fire even when you’re taking excellent care of it. But why is that? Well, there are times when the car itself is at fault.
When purchasing a car that was recently introduced, there’s always a small chance of having a design flaw that manufacturers could have overlooked. While it may seem unlikely that the design flaw itself would cause a fire, there’s always a slim chance of it happening.
Manufacturers typically catch these issues before they become widespread and issue recalls to fix the problems, but it’s not always the case. While not all design flaws are particularly dangerous, it’s still essential to be aware of the risks and take any necessary precautions needed.
3. Car Collisions
Being involved in a car crash is already a terrifying experience on its own, but it can get even more harrowing when the car bursts into flames. Numerous situations can lead to this outcome, one of which is a leaking fuel tank that can cause both the vehicle and its passengers to be engulfed in flames in a matter of seconds.
A safer possibility can be an electrical system failure, which can generate sparks that ignite gasoline vapors. In some cases, the engine itself can malfunction and cause fluids to leak onto hot surfaces, potentially leading to a fire.
Sometimes, faulty batteries and airbag explosions are also common reasons why a car can catch fire after an accident.
4. Overheating Engine
Engines that get too hot and start fires are a great example of how one problem can lead to another.
While a car’s engine typically won’t just burst into flames on its own, it can overheat and start making its fluids, like oil and coolant, get super hot and spill out of their designated areas. If they were to drip and land on other hot parts, they could set the car on fire, which, of course, doesn’t sound great.
If an overheating engine is a regular occurrence, then your car is more prone to being ablaze. Therefore, it’s crucial to maintain your vehicle and ensure the engine doesn’t overheat as often.