Five and a half years old. Stays in my glove box, mostly. I guess it's the battery?

It's the only way to be sure.

His truck.

Thank goodness no one was in the car when this happened.

You might want to look up that brand of battery, and see if it has a bad record, like the infamous Samsung phones.

My guess is something failed and caused the battery to short out. I would contact Garmin. They would want to know about this. Garmin is a reputable company. I am on my third GPS from Garmin.

Maybe yours was one of the ones effected by that issue?

Here’s the link if you know your model to check.

https://my.garmin.com/rma/recallLanding.faces?zebratwo=CJ

I've had this one for a long time.

So it was indeed old.

Once the insurance adjuster comes out and inspects the damage I can look for a another car.
Maybe I'll get another Versa. Really nice car. Best car I ever had.

At least all that was damaged was property and it’s insured.

I am getting a clue it has to do with gps? but since we have an older without gps, no need to worry?

So you didn't have to be distracted by looking at a map. It would "tell" you where to turn, how many feet you needed to go, etc.

I didn't like it much because to me it was difficult to program and I'm not techie at all. So my auto mechanic unassembled it and I didn't know quite what to do with it so I just left it on the back seat.

will share the info, just in case.

I think if your car as an on board GPS, it would be OK.

I just use my phone. I'm so sorry that this happened to you. I know how it is to be attached to your car.

One thing I get with Google Maps that I never got with the Garmin was is warnings of backups on the Interstate, when there is a nasty accident. It helps to be able to go around them, especially in a place where you're not familiar enough with the back roads to avoid the accident scene.

Interesting that a Garmin could blow up like that, I've never heard of it happening before.

But Google maps on my phone hasn't steered me wrong yet - and it even auto corrects if I make an unexpected turn.

And I didn't know these things blew up, either! It's a good heads up for the rest of us, but poor CTyankee!

I really liked it. Very basic and entry level car. I just bought a car (used Legacy) but I miss the simplicity of the Versa.

First was a 2011 Versa hatchback. Amazing how much stuff you can put in that car! Helped my son move twice and it was great. I gave it to him in 2016 and bought a new version, the Versa Note.

They are great cars.

I'll update when I hear from the insurance company adjuster.

Not on the list, thank goodness.

it was a gift, so need to look up its model etc. Do not need this to happen at all. EGADS!

How CAN such a thing blow up?

HAPPY you're OK.

But our insurance company is handling it so we're ok. They might take action against Garmin, but what do I know about insurance...

Wonder if Garmin has a history of this kind of thing? Hope you get a new Versa...with an on board GPS.

it in early 2016. I liked the model, the ride, the style, the color, everything except the seat belts (hard to get on).

We have a Garmin GPS that hangs out in my husband's truck. He uses it when he hunts. I'm not sure where it should live now, given your experience. Yikes.

Exploding with sufficient force to damage the car seats is something I’d never consider from a consumer electronic. Glad you’re okay!

It started right up and the lights went on (it's dark now here).

So it's not totaled but jeez.

Insurance company adjuster coming Feb. 1 to assess.

I don't know what to do.

You've had a bitch of a day. You don't have to do any thing else to do tonight, right.

Thank you. We get through these things.

...knowing that they're in use in so many of our home/auto/whatever devices. Imagine if a turned-off laptop, tablet, or digital camera were to blow with that much force.

The thought of him and my grandson being at risk scared me. So he said he was going out immediately to do so.

Please tell anyone you know who might have a Garmin to just get rid of the damn thing. This is just not worth it.

I guess that would be a very bad thing and could damage one's body...I will try not even to think about it...

a GPS was a complete and total loss of any map-reading ability.

Of course, it's difficult to drive and read those directions at the same time, which is why the whole GPS thing came into existence.

I remember those directions: "Turn right out of your driveway. Go one block to Maple Street and turn left..."

I'll look it up on a map, usually google maps, and then print out my own directions.

They'll say things like: S on I25 to Hatch cutoff. I10 W to E Valencia Road. W on E Valencia to S Ignacio.

And I actually use an arrow rather than the word to. I'm fairly visual, and since I've looked at a map, I rarely go wrong.

Last October I missed the exit I needed precisely because I hadn't taken another good look at the map, depending on my (apparently faulty) memory to recall the correct exit, since I'd gone to that place several times before.

I keep on having experiences with people who depend totally on their GPS and then keep on circling a block because the GPS system doesn't handle parking lots very well.

That's scary stuff.

I vape, and I'm always worried my device is going to blow up in my pocket.

Hybrids and electric cars are major users of lithium batteries. If one of those packs runs away, its fukashima on the freeway. A quick Google search brings up example videos.

Lithium ion batteries are very energy dense and if they develop an internal short, or thermally run away, all that energy dumps and the result is a explosion and fire. Here is a UL video of the batteries in a consumer product induced to run awzy.

Last edited Sat Jan 27, 2018, 09:58 AM - Edit history (1)

Hell, take pics and send them to your local news.

Or better yet, Jeff Rossen at NBC.

He does a lot of consumer safety stories, and people should be warned.

I think they will probably go after that company bigly.

shopping. My car is in the front of my house and the insurance claims adjuster is coming on Thursday to look at it. Since it started last night my worst scenario didn't play out, thank god. I'm hoping the claims guy can give me some guidance here.

Now I'm thinking about a lawsuit against Garmin. They have to know about all the cases of the lithiom battery.

There are all these injury lawyers with ads on TV. But I'd have to find an injury lawyer. At the very least they should be forced to pay the deductible but I might have a shot at being put at physical risk by their product.

Folks here at DU were great yesterday and gave me valuable information.

Thank you, DU!

That's just a guess.

I'm wondering if a dashcam is the same thing as a GPS?

My guess is that the Garmin company now has a fund to head off consumer's threats to sue.

My son is an attorney. He might know altho he is not in that area of the law.

seriously

yes, certainly there needs to be followup on this!

system, you are lucky.

I am glad no one was hurt.

Soooooooooooooooo very glad you are okay !!!

Pat

Thank you for checking in with me!

not the litium batteries. It is my understanding that this is the difference. So this is why it the more modern GPS's don't explode, or at least I never heard of it. But this is my understanding of the issue.

Yikes! Glad you're okay!