Scion xB spontaneously combusts during dealer service
Click above for more pics of the Scion xB post-fire damage
An auto dealer service center is a lot like a doctor's office for your car. When something is wrong or your ride needs a check-up, a technician can set things right. Of course sometimes doctors make mistakes like taking off your left foot when they're supposed to amputate the right one, and things don't always go as planned in the hands of a trained tech. One Scion xB owner took his modified baby to the dealer for a Technical Service Bulletin, and it ended up engulfed in flames. The fire completely destroyed the little xB, but the good news is that the dealer has taken full responsibility for the problem and is giving the owner a new ride for his troubles.
We had auto shop in high school, but we can't seem to remember any reason a car should blow up when being worked on. We don't know what Scion xB TSB was being done, but if trying to fix it could blow up your car, that's probably not good. Check out the gruesome pics in the gallery below
Gallery: Scion xB after fire
[Source: Scion Life via Motive Mag]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
NYChic 8:47AM (4/08/2008)
Can't be long before one of you idiots comes up with 'That'll buff right out'.
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almost Dr. G.. 9:24AM (4/08/2008)
That'll buff right out!!
you gave us idiots too much credit by putting the apostrophe in that'll.. sorry im more of a tool than an idiot..
:)
MJK 8:50AM (4/08/2008)
That should buff right out...he'll be fine.
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Corey W. 8:59AM (4/08/2008)
I wonder what was modified...
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Randy 3:22PM (4/08/2008)
Before or after the explosion?
Tom Gabriele 9:04AM (4/08/2008)
i heard that he removed the fcu to save on weight
[the fire control unit]
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TBlueMax 9:07AM (4/08/2008)
It looks like the fire was primarily contained in the passenger compartment based on the amount of soot and fire suppressant covering the inside - or - once it started burning, everyone grabbed marshmallows and started roasting them. Makes me even more curious why the xB's entire front clip and front fenders are removed. Scavenging for parts already?
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George 9:15AM (4/08/2008)
Haha, these pictures should be posted everywhere to serve as a warning for tuners everywhere. Adding something mechanical like CID on is one thing, but people love to muck with the electrical components on these things. I would bet you it was an electrical fire.
I test drove one of these for my company (WheelsTV.net) and I felt a little silly driving around in it. Especially when the only people that came up to the car in the day that I had it was an elderly couple asking about it.
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NOreasonY 9:16AM (4/08/2008)
Its an ugly toyota...it deserves to burn! jk....sorta :)
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Frylock350 9:21AM (4/08/2008)
The sheeple have exacted their revenge...
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Chris 9:35AM (4/08/2008)
That's hot.
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FThorn 9:36AM (4/08/2008)
Daihatsu (Matera) build quality is showing, Toyota.
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dskinner 11:44AM (4/08/2008)
Although the 2nd gen xB is built in a Daihatsu (Toyota-owned) factory in Japan, it is no longer built off of the bB/Materia platform. Daihatsu doesn't even build a version of the current xB, although Toyota sells it as the Corolla Rumion in JP. Either way, saying that the build quality is any different is simply ignorant, as nearly all of the insides of the xB come from the Camry. It's like saying the G5 is not built as well as a Cobalt, or a Sable is not built as well as a Taurus. If you were joking about it all, then I hope I simply informed you, and maybe you could say...
Looks like the Daihatsu built Toyota Corolla Rumion is showing it's quality.
I am impressed that Autoblog readers aren't blasting Toyota too bad, and noticing that it was probably due to the owner's poorly done modification.
thebobman 9:45AM (4/08/2008)
I looks like it started inside the dash and burned for quite some time. My Theory that the guy brought it in to have one or both of the airbags removed to allow for the installation of a TV in the dash or steering wheel. Removing airbags is something that any tuner worth his salt would leave to a dealer for a number of reasons (documentation for resale, the fact they can explode, etc.). The dealer probably removed the airbag(s) but caused a short somewhere in the dash; not bad enough to cause a fire immediately, but enough that after a while (ie. after everybody'd gone home) the fire started.
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Menice 9:55AM (4/08/2008)
artical states 3x it was in for TSB
Neon Jebus 9:47AM (4/08/2008)
Are those Sour Patch Kids in the storage area in front of the passenger seat? Man I love Sour Patch Kids!
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Seminole 12:34PM (4/08/2008)
They were. Now they are Sour Patch Goo.
dejal 9:47AM (4/08/2008)
God help the owner if it was being serviced at that BMW dealer who tried screwing the E-Bay winner.
Crap happens, good for the dealer to make good.
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h8rain 11:32AM (4/08/2008)
Ahh! you beat me to that!
The BMW place would charge the owner for any damages to their shop and/or employee :)
tankd0g 10:07AM (4/08/2008)
If it was in the dash I would put money on it being the result of some ICE installation, some of those places really are bad. 3m quick connectors instead of solder joints, nothing shrink wraped, fuse links not installed etc.
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