A Nashville woman’s short drive home from work turned into a nightmare when her Jeep Grand Cherokee suddenly caught fire. Mary Caroline Minter was driving through light rain when the floor under the passenger seat started glowing red and burst into flames. The TikTok video she posted shows the burned-out vehicle and explains how she barely escaped.
According to Motor1, Minter said she first smelled burning rubber and thought it was related to a tire problem she’d had before. But when she looked closer, she saw flames coming from under the passenger seat. She reached over to lift the seat and check, which burned her hand and hoodie. She didn’t notice the burns until later because of the adrenaline rush.
She quickly pulled the car across the street and jumped out, grabbing her bag and a stuffed dinosaur. Within 20 seconds of getting out, the fire spread through the entire passenger seat and front area. Rain was pouring down as she ran from the car and tried calling 911, but her phone died. A passing driver gave her their phone with emergency services already connected.
Firefighters discovered a shocking cause for the blaze
By the time firefighters put out the fire, the windows had shattered, the sunroof had blown off, and sparks were flying from nearby power lines. Fire crews needed several attempts to fully put out the flames inside the cabin. They told Minter the fire was caused by a battery failure under the front passenger seat.
Some Jeep Grand Cherokee models from 2016 to 2019 have the main or backup battery placed under the front seats instead of under the hood. This design helps with weight balance and keeps the battery cooler, but it means major electrical parts are inside the cabin with the seats and other materials that can catch fire easily. This isn’t the first time buyers have encountered alarming missing safety features in vehicles.
Car fires happen frequently across all brands. About 215,000 vehicle fires occur in the United States each year, and most are caused by mechanical or electrical problems. Interior electrical parts can quickly set fire to seat cushions and plastic trim once something goes wrong.
Minter’s Jeep isn’t currently on any official recall list for battery fire risks. However, Jeep has recalled other models before for electrical issues that could cause overheating or fires, including over 1 million vehicles for alternator problems.
If you smell burning or see smoke inside your car, pull over right away. This is especially important if you also notice flickering lights, warning messages, or the smell of hot electronics. Car interiors can become fully engulfed in flames within minutes when wiring under seats catches fire. The toxic smoke and rapid fire spread make getting out of the vehicle the top priority. Call 911 before calling family or roadside help.
Many commenters on Minter’s TikTok video shared their own Jeep fire stories. “you said jeep and i said ah that makes sense,” one person wrote. “Omg glad you are safe. I used to love Jeeps but I have seen SO many Jeeps of various models on fire,” said another. Besides durability, Jeep has also faced criticism over aggressive dealership pricing tactics.
This was Minter’s third Jeep and the first to catch fire, but it was enough to make her switch brands. She had a clear message for viewers: “Get rid of the car. I loved my car and it is not worth it in any way, shape, or form.”
