Out of nowhere, a loud bang and a flash hit as Mike Tennant pulled his 2015 Hyundai Sonata into his driveway.
“A large flame came up over the hood and I jumped out of the car and ran to the door and said, ‘Patty, my car is on fire!’ I was shaking so bad I couldn’t dial 911,” he said.
It had only been about 15 minutes since Mike from Cambridge, Ont., picked up his car from the dealership after it was serviced.
His wife, Patty Atwell Tennant, called the fire department while recording on her phone as the flames spread and took over the car.
Tennant says he can’t forget trying to fight off the fire – starting with a fire extinguisher and then using a garden hose – but nothing worked.
WATCH | Security cam captures car fire:
Sonata bursts into flames
This video, caught by a neighbour’s security camera, shows exactly when Mike Tennant’s Hyundai Sonata went up in flames just minutes after he got it back from routine servicing.
“I had nightmares that would wake me up with the panic of what we went through, seeing the fire, the potential of what could have happened,” he said.
Atwell Tennant adds: “I was afraid for my family at that point.”
WATCH | Failed attempts to extinguish fire: 
Mike Tennant battles car fire
Mike Tennant tries to put out his burning car in their driveway first with a fire extinguisher then with a garden hose – all caught on video by his wife Patty Atwell Tennant.
The firefighters arrived quickly and stopped the blaze from spreading or hurting anyone. But Mike’s high-end Sonata – which he bought for about $40,000 as a gift for his 50th birthday – was totally destroyed.
The only reminder left behind was a burnt mark on their driveway right near their house.
More than a year later, no one has figured out exactly why it caught fire or who should be held responsible.
Experts weigh in
Tennant says he always kept up with maintenance and took his car in for regular service on Nov. 9, 2021. He got it back that same day.
The Go Public team showed videos of the burning vehicle plus detailed service records from that day to two experts asking if they thought something done during servicing caused this.
Eli Melnick-an electrical engineer who’s also licensed mechanic and forensic investigator-believes something like an accelerant probably fueled this blaze.
The insurance company hauled away what was left of the car and sold it for scrap. It doesn’t look like anyone ever officially investigated what happened. (Submitted by Mike Tennant)
“I would say gasoline is probably the most likely fuel that fed the fire in this case, judging by the intensity and height of the flames,” Melnick said.
A big clue for him is how soon after picking up the car (about 15 minutes) it caught fire-that’s roughly how long an engine takes to get hot enough to start such fires. “And that’s hot enough to cause fire,” Melnick added.
Matt Carpenter teaches automotive mechanics at Southern Alberta Institute of Technology. He agrees an accelerant looks like what fueled this huge flame but cautions against jumping to conclusions about why it started in first place.
An accelerant explains why it burned so big and fast but not where it actually began or why. </P
“I don’t think it’s possible that we could find out what’s happened,” he said. “The vehicle has burned down, so we really don’t have any evidence remaining.”</P
No proof suggests there was any official investigation either. A spokesperson from Cambridge Fire Department explained they don’t investigate vehicle fires unless someone gets seriously hurt or there are signs pointing toward arson or foul play.</P
The couple’s insurer Allstate sold off whatever remained as salvage after paying out their claim.</P
“With any claim, our adjusters evaluate details before deciding if further investigation is needed,” Allstate stated but didn’t confirm if they looked into this case closely or not.</P
The dealership didn’t do its own probe either because Allstate apparently never blamed them directly:</P
“If insurers suspected dealership responsibility they’d let us inspect firsthand,” said one dealer source.”
WATCH | Ontario couple traumatized after their Hyundai catches fire:
n
Couple shocked no one investigated after Hyundai burst into flamesn A Cambridge couple still shaken by watching their 2015 Sonata ignite outside their home are even more surprised nobody dug deeper into what caused it.n
A gap in safety protocolsn
n George Iny runs Automobile Protection Agency; he says stories like these show gaps in safety oversight exposed every year among thousands of Canadian auto fires.n
If automakers aren’t required to report these incidents to Transport Canada regularly there might be delays spotting patterns tied to defects-which means recalls get slowed down risking public safety.n
Patty Atwell Tennant told dealers about her husband’s fiery incident right away but heard nothing back; seven months later she complained formally to Hyundai Canada.n George Iny says no rules force reporting those kinds of fires federally which leaves safety blind spots unresolved.n”The aftermath felt very much like business-as-usual,” Iny explained.n
Laws may change soon?n
n Transport Canada plans new rules requiring manufacturers track vehicle fires better & report them promptly hoping faster defect responses result.n For George Iny that sounds like welcome progress speeding recall decisions once problems surface:n![]()
n Matt Carpenter warns without wreckage pinpointing exact causes remains guesswork.(Colin Hall/CBC)n“It has every chance of doing that,” Iny added,“Likely shortening wait times before recalls happen.”n Meanwhile Mike Tennants say they mostly covered costs themselves; Allstate paid $16,472.95 towards replacing damaged Sonata which Mike planned driving payment-free several more years before buying newer Honda instead.n Cambridge Hyundai’s service manager suggested reimbursing $1,196.03 charged for last appointment plus discount on new Hyundais,nbut manager left dealership since then which now refuses compensation offers.n![]()
n George Iny notes many auto fires go unreported raising big safety concerns.(Christian Patry/CBC)nthe dealership claims sympathy but denies blame citing “unsubstantiated allegations” not proof;nhowever Hyundai Canada told Go Public talks between dealer & couple may lead somewhere,nalso admitted reviewing matter revealed “specific ways” customer care needs improving.nmike & patty describe ordeal as deeply upsetting:n“it just floors me they [dealership] dismissed everything taking zero responsibility,” mike shared;nhis wife nodded adding,“I guess I expected at least some help & kindness given everything we went through.”n![]()
ncambri dge hyundai did sonata service earlier same day before fiery destruction.(google maps)\n
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