BETHESDA, Maryland – A family in Bethesda, Maryland, was jolted awake in the early hours of the morning when their 2015 Nissan Murano spontaneously burst into flames in their driveway. The terrifying incident, captured on doorbell camera footage, showed the SUV smoking before erupting into a fiery blaze, prompting the family to evacuate their home.
Vicki and Philip Hill, along with their three young children, were asleep when the vehicle caught fire around 5:30 a.m. on May 14. The sound of exploding airbags woke them up, and they were grateful that their neighbor’s dog alerted her to the fire, prompting her to call 911.
Fortunately, the SUV was parked outside facing the street, away from the garage and gas line, which could have resulted in a catastrophic explosion if the car had been parked inside. The Hills had been in the process of preparing their garage for parking but had not completed it, leading them to park the SUV in the driveway.
Following the incident, the family had to rely on a rental car as their Mercedes Benz, parked near the Nissan Murano, was damaged and undrivable. Despite the damage to their property, Nissan initially declined to provide a replacement vehicle but later offered a loaner car after mounting pressure from the family.
Nissan has launched an investigation into the fire, citing a possible connection to a previous recall. Since 2015, the Murano model has been subjected to several recalls, including issues related to fires. The Hills recalled a previous recall involving a pump on the Nissan Murano and are awaiting the results of Nissan’s investigation to determine the cause of the fire.
The traumatic experience has left the family’s children deeply shaken, with fears of recurring incidents. The emotional toll of the fire has prompted the parents to consider the long-term impact on their children’s well-being and safety.
As the family waits for updates from Nissan and the results of the investigation, they hope to raise awareness about the potential risks of vehicle fires and the importance of prompt and empathetic responses from companies in such situations. Their story serves as a cautionary tale for other families about the unexpected dangers that can arise from vehicle malfunctions.