labcoat

I just had my 2013 911 S Cab go up in flames a week ago, almost the same way yours did. I'm 11 months into the lease, with only 2,000 miles on the car. I was driving with the top down in a residential area, traveling around 30 mph, when the engine became unresponsive. I immediately smelled something burning and saw smoke come from the engine as the dash warning lights came on. I coasted to a stop and jumped out just as flames leapt from the engine. I ran to safety as my car went up, the flames reaching upwards of 30 feet in the air. Luckily there is a fire department a few blocks from where this happened, so they arrived rather quickly - but even so, it was too late. The car is totaled and is now being analyzed by my insurance company's fire investigation department. I had the car's first oil change the day before at the dealership from which I leased the vehicle.

Were you able to get any compensation and/or take any legal action?

CardiffDweller

That is really frightening. I guess you were lucky it was a low speed affair and you could quickly stop and get out. I wonder if it is as simple as a mechanic leaving a shop rag under the engine fan cover somewhere. Gap insurance should have you covered to walk from the lease but I wonder what you can possibly extract in consideration for the whole experience given that there appears to be no obvious damage other than the car.

Gcracker07110

Lab coat please start a new thread so that we an keep up with your saga. Sorry to hear about your car. A little disconcerting this spontaneous combustion of 991s

LexVan

Wow! Very sorry. That's terrible. Glad no injuries.

eg991

Terrible story. Happy you made it out safely. That's what's most important.

stealthboy

I hate to sound paranoid but it was this original thread that made me get fire extinguishers for all my cars. Scary stuff. Keep us updated!

Noah Fect

Smart: carry a fire extinguisher in your car

Smarter: skip the fire extinguisher and carry a good pair of running shoes

trysixty

This sounds like a repeat of the 991 fire in Seattle after the oil change from Larsen Porsche........should we be worried each time the oil is changed?? or carry a fire extinguisher and always wear a pair Nike when driving the car??

bccars

scary story !

walterwu

Sounds like Porsche dealers need to take the same approach that they use in the operating room and start counting up the the surgical sponges before they close up the patients.

duxsi

I think this is either fire number 3 or 4...

niche

Yikes! This is the first I hear of 991s catching on fire.

mtony

I've done an oil change on my own 911S and after filling up with fresh oil I realized that it was very easy to spill oil over the engine and exhaust system without noticing. The oil filler spout is very slow to accept the oil, so if you keep pouring, you can pour oil around the spout and onto the engine/exhaust below. If your funnel is as large as the spout, you won't notice the oil overflowing because of the plastic housing that covers everything but the top of the spout. I noticed it when the oil started dripping under the car. Very difficult to clean up too. I wonder if this has anything to do with these fires.

certified_prime

This is precisely why I don't like the plastic cover over the engine that hides everything.

ECS Tuning

Glad you to hear you made it okay and no injuries occurred. Keep us updated on what you hear back. Good luck with everything.