Yesterday when Vince picked his car up at the shop, he was chatting with the mechanic and the subject came up about a recent fire in town. The mechanic was telling Vince about problems with some vehicles where the electronics or computer system is catching fire when the car is just sitting – not even in use. I don’t know all the details but from what Vince has read, if I had a newer car with a lot of fancy smancy stuff on it, I would NOT be parking it in a garage attached to my house.
Because Vince is thinking about getting a newer vehicle, he started doing research and I think now . . we’ll have our current vehicles for a very long time.
I’m not saying YOU should not be parking your own vehicles in your garage but I am recommending you google possible fire hazards for whatever vehicle you’re driving.
While I didn’t google every vehicle manufacturer, every one I googled has a recent or current recall due to fire hazards, all of which can occur when the vehicle is in the garage turned off. PLEASE google your vehicle, especially if you are parking in a garage attached to your house.
Who would have known this? If there’s a recall, you SHOULD get a notice but some of these problems are known and one of the articles I read said they would begin sending out recall notices in June. Please be pro-active and check out your own vehicle.
Laura says
I don’t see any fire hazard issues for my new vehicle, thank goodness. I appreciate the tip, though.
Judy Laquidara says
I’d watch it. New vechicles sometimes take a while for problems to manifest themselves.
Kathleen says
This happened to my elderly neighbor. A passing motorist and I went through the house to see if she was home. We saw the fire break through the garage wall. She wasn’t home and we made it out. The house was a total loss. Big brick home in a lovely neighborhood. It was a Lincoln several years old.
Judy Laquidara says
I had never heard of it, though a neighbor’s house burned in Brownwood but they had a huge garage attached and it was their motor home that started it and it sounds like the same thing.
That was very nice of y’all to go in to make sure she was safe.
What scares me are the things we don’t know. You can’t really blame manufacturers for not sounding the alert as soon as they hear there’s a chance the defects are causing safety issues but if you’re the one whose house burned because of it, you’re probably wishing there would have been earlier notification. I also wonder how many people get recall notices and don’t pay attention or how many never make it to the correct owner.
Kathleen says
Her house was built prior to building codes that require a firewall between garage and house for just that reason.
Judy Laquidara says
Honestly, I don’t think all areas require firewalls, especially when the attic is over the ceiling. I doubt we have a firewall.
Beth Andrews says
The same thing can be said of new televisions, toasters, etc. just remember that sometimes, the cows kicked over the lantern in the barn. Every generation has its risks.
Judy Laquidara says
If you research and see how many of these fires are occurring, it’s a little concerning.
TERI says
Thanks for the heads up…