Having your car catch fire is a dangerous and typically terrifying experience. For one woman, the timing couldn’t have been worse.
Brandie (@brandie.1983), a Florida-based realtor, posted a video of the inferno. The car itself isn’t visible in the clip, but thick plumes of dark smoke fill the frame, and what sounds like a fire alarm blares in the background.
Brandie adds her own commentary as the situation unfolds. “When the car doesn’t even make it past the appraisal process to trade it in,” she says.
The clip leans into the moment with humor, even as the situation plays out off-camera.
“Not the car choosing a dramatic exit instead of a trade-in,” she writes in the text overlay. As of this writing, the video has more than 18,200 views.
What Causes A Car To Catch On Fire?
Car fires are relatively rare, but when they happen, they usually come down to something going wrong under the hood (unless, of course, arson was involved).
Most of the time, it starts with a mix of heat and something flammable, and cars are full of both. Gas, oil, and other fluids can catch fire if they leak and come into contact with a hot surface, such as the engine or exhaust.
According to Bryant Law Center, a leaky fuel system is among the most common causes. Even a small leak can turn into a bigger problem if it reaches something hot or sparks.
Electrical problems are another big culprit. Damaged or worn wiring or a short can create enough heat or a spark to start a fire.
Leaks from things like fuel, oil, or transmission fluid can also be a factor. If those fluids drip onto hot parts, they can ignite pretty quickly.
Overheating plays a role, too. Parts like the engine can get extremely hot for a range of reasons, and if something nearby catches fire, it can spread fast.
In some cases, it’s tied to a defect or a recalled part; in other words, a “design flaw” with the car, as the law firm puts it. Other times, it can come from aftermarket work that wasn’t installed correctly, such as wiring for a sound system or a remote starter.
While routine maintenance can help keep your engine from overheating, there isn’t always a clear warning if something else is wrong with your car that could cause it to catch fire. Sometimes people notice a burning smell or see smoke before anything serious happens, but that’s not always the case.
That’s part of why moments like the one Brandie shared catch people off guard. It can go from normal to serious very quickly.
Viewers Can’t Believe Car Was In Flames
People who came across Brandie’s clip said they were caught somewhere between amused and stunned by what they were seeing, with many reacting to the situation in real time.
One viewer summed it up without words, dropping a string of laughing and crying emojis.
Another took a more playful approach, imagining what the car might have been “thinking” as it went up in flames.
“‘You tryna trade me in?! I think tf not! Watch this!’” she wrote, following it up with another round of crying-laughing emojis.
Others shifted away from the jokes and tried to piece together what might have happened, starting with the most basic question.
“What kind of car was it,” one person asked.
“[Was] it a Kia?” another wondered.
“I’d guess a Honda or Toyota,” a third person said.
A few viewers circled back to the moment itself, noting how unusual it was to see something like that happen during what should have been a routine trade-in.
Motor1 has reached out to Brandie via direct message on TikTok. We’ll update this story if we hear back.
@brandie.1983 “Not the car choosing a dramatic exit instead of a trade-in 😭🔥”
♬ original sound - Brandie
