Cars with the Highest Chances of Catching Fire
Suddenly having your car catch fire sounds like something out of a horror movie, but it isn’t fictitious. The National Fire Protection Association estimates 17 cars catch fire every hour, and that’s just in U.S. Out of those, mechanical failures are the primary cause.
Those numbers might seem drastic, but keep in mind that there roughly 227.5 million licensed drivers in the U.S. Each of those have at least one car, while others have more. Regardless, there are a few vehicles that are more likely to combust on you. These are the cars with the highest chances of catching fire.
Jaguar F-Type
Founded in 1922, Jaguar has an extensive history of designing and selling luxury vehicles around the world. Their F-Type, a two-door sports car complete with your choice of a V6 or V8 engine, was launched in 2012.
It wasn’t until 2013 that this model’s combustible potential was reported. Unfortunately, owners went up in flames over the car’s loose battery cables. Jaguar issued a full recall in December of 2014, which also included their XJ and XF models. This is one clear-cut case under California lemon law.
Chevrolet Vega
Manufactured from 1970 to 1977, the Vega stood as an exceptional subcompact. Motor Trend even named it Car of the Year in 1971. With near-endless upgrade and customization capability, it was a hit among sports car lovers.
Unfortunately, the legacy was short-lived. Rust, an engine prone to overheating, and too small of a radiator were causing various issues. Combine that with loose carburetor bolds, and you have the perfect storm for a car fire.
Lamborghini Veneno
You might think that $4.5 million car wouldn’t suffer such issues, but the 2013 Veneno sure did. It was a sub-variant of the Aventador, suffering many of the same technical and mechanical issues. Lamborghini recalled all 12 models when owners discovered gasoline leaking into the exhaust system.
Ferrari 458 Italia
Another top-notch company known for superb sports cars suffered a similar fate with the 458 Italia. Launched in 2009, this vehicle won various awards and races with top speeds of 210 mph and a 7-speed gearbox.
Then, 2010 came. Five of these models caught fire when their wheel arches touched the exhaust pipe. As time went on, it became clear that it was time for Ferrari to ditch the 458 Italia and move on. This case goes to show that luxury does not equal safer.
Tesla Model S
Tesla has had plenty of mishaps with its line of high-end, technologically advanced vehicles. While they remain a best-seller for electric cars, their Model S has a severe issue. Under the right stipulations in an accident, the car bursts into flames.
Even worse, the sheer amount of technology combined with the all-electric motor creates an electrical fire. Unlike a gas fire, it takes different methods to put these flames out. The issue persists and remains a challenge, so much so that Tesla has issued guidelines for first responders when a Model S goes up in flames.
