Family’s Nissan SUV Erupts in Flames and Explodes in Driveway

On the morning of May 14, Vicki Hill was abruptly awakened by a series of explosions outside her Bethesda, Maryland home. The source of the noise was the airbags deploying in the family’s 2015 Nissan Murano, which had caught fire while parked in the driveway.

“I thought someone was trying to break into our house with a sledgehammer,” Hill recounted. She woke her husband, who quickly discovered the SUV in flames and called out for her to dial 911.

Footage from the family’s doorbell camera, shared with CNN, captures the moment smoke began to rise before the vehicle was fully engulfed in flames. The exact cause of the fire remains undetermined and is currently being investigated by Nissan. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is also gathering information.

“The safety and security of our customers is our primary concern,” a Nissan spokesperson stated in response to inquiries about the incident. “We have opened an investigation into this incident.”

The Hills’ Murano had been recalled in 2016 and 2019 to address an issue with brake fluid leakage that could potentially cause a fire, even when the vehicle was parked. At the time, owners were advised to park their vehicles outside and away from buildings until the issue was resolved.

A search on the NHTSA’s website indicated that the recall on the Hills’ Murano was still outstanding. However, the Hills recall having the repair completed and provided CNN with a photo of the receipt from a local Nissan dealership as evidence. CNN has not yet verified the receipt’s authenticity.

Due to ongoing garage repairs, the couple had parked both of their cars in the driveway. “Minutes later, the house could have gone up,” Philip Hill noted, pointing out how close the vehicle was to the house. The garage door melted from the intense heat of the fire.

The couple credits their neighbour’s dog for saving their lives. The dog alerted its owner, who called 911 before the Hills were even aware of the fire. The flames also damaged their other car, a 2012 Mercedes C-Class, rendering it unusable.

Initially suspecting vandalism, the Hills reviewed their Nest doorbell footage, which clearly showed the vehicle igniting on its own. Nissan has since taken possession of the Murano for a thorough examination.

Vehicle fires, while alarming, are not uncommon. According to the National Fire Protection Association, an estimated 188,500 car and truck fires occurred in the United States in 2022, resulting in 610 civilian deaths.