AIBU to avoid a hybrid due to fire risk?

[carobsessedfortoday]

i need to buy a car. Want something a few years old and considering a Honda jazz coz reliability. My mechanic is a petroleum fan but hybrid obviously taking over fast. I've been warned about the fire risk of peteol hybrid cars. Is this valid or AIBU?

We've had a hybrid fire. The battery burnt out, but impressively the petrol tank wasn't compromised. Given the stats on hybrid fires, I wouldn't be rushing out to buy another one.

What make/model was this out of interest?

Volvo V90. They've since done a recall because it's happened twice.

Not one of Volvo's best cars (not that the others are any better) - still, glad you're alright, thats what matters.

👍

You do realise that they didn’t come up with the data themselves?

This is their source…

“Compilation of Fires in Electric Vehicles and Electric Means of Transport in 2018–2022,” Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency, 2023

Oddly enough it comes to the same conclusions.

Oh @Sausagescanflyhow scary.

It was scary. Fortunately, it was just parked on our drive at the time and DH noticed pretty quickly. But the firefighters just had to let it burn out, there doesn't seem to be much that can be done with an enclosed battery burning.

So you also have to look at the split between ICE vehicles and EV’s hybrids which throws the figures EVs are much more popular in Northern Europe

If you plan to travel on holiday abroad in your car, consider the availability of charging stations if you choose an all electric vehicle.

I live in a coastal area in rural Ireland and there’s no chance I’d buy an all electric vehicle just yet as the infrastructure for re-charging is very patchy.

Oh good point @PluckyChancer

Not that EVs are any better re fire risks:

https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/jan/12/australia-ev-drivers-warned-not-fully-charge-cars-volvo-ex30

Who the heck would be satisified with a car that they could only juice up 70pc of?

Impacts far more on EVs than ICE cars, thats for sure and lets face it, EV ranges are all BS anyway and low in the real world.

Maybe there will be a warning for other markets that sell this unreliable Volvo/Chinese tat....

I think the biggest risk from electric/ hybrid car fires is an emergency planning risk not an individual safety risk. Once they start burning they aren't going to stop for a few days. Alot of cities now how policies for forklifting them into the nearest rivers, race tracks that allow EV cars have to have similar plans in place for where to let them burn themselves out.
But as an individual, in the unlikely event of a fire you will stop, get out and get anyone else in the car out, and then watch the car burn and the traffic back up.

That's a really interesting point. When we had our hybrid battery fire, the were two fire engines and lots of firefighters. They towed it away from our house a bit, in case the fire got bigger, and then just had to watch it burn. They then had to stay with us until it had been collected by a specialist recovery firm from London picked it up. Apparently it then had to be stored on a special lot covered with a fire retardant blanket as there is a risk of reigniting and then burning through the other cars nearby.

Presumably with a full EV it is that x 10 or so, because the battery is so much bigger. Though EVs don't have a tank of petrol at risk of burning too.

The firebrigade didn't seem confident in what to do with this sort of fire and there obviously isn't local infrastructure to deal with the aftermath either.

"Alot of cities now how policies for forklifting them into the nearest rivers"

LOL

Rather undermines the whole BS around the environment and looking after it!

My husband has the HRV hybrid and would consider the Crosstar as the next. I understand - the HRV has low mpg in comparison to my crosstar , more expensive to run and feels like a ball and chain on the back 🤣

We all have personal preferences and the extra risk from the hybrid would concern me; mainly I’d not buy one due to the extra complexity that arises as it could cost more long term in maintenance.
However, the Honda Jazz or Toyota Corolla hybrid are ones I’d consider as they’ve proved reliable so far.

Thanks everyone
im shopping today 🤞

Not remotely true at all re maintenance costs.

Of course, it will depend on the car in question, but complexity doesnt equal additional cost.

The three hybrids I am running cost me less than the petrol only powered cars I had before.

I've had mine for a year. It hasn't caught fire yet!

Mercedes ... junk? Think not.

Compare the statistics about the likelihood of you having a car accident, which I imagine is probably a more likely scenario. Then decide if you want a car.
Your mechanic probably knows full well if you a hybrid you’re less likely to go to him

You are right.

They are worse than junk.

Come back to me when they trouce Honda/Toyota/Lexus in the reliability stakes.

Every motoring outlet has EU car makers as mediocre to crap, and Mercedes is right down there in the gutter with other pseudo "premium" car makers, BMW and FrAudi.

I love my Honda HRV hybrid. It is a joy to drive. I have been driving Hondas for years and see no reason to change.

Seems Whatcar like the HR-V too...

https://www.whatcar.com/news/car-of-the-year-awards-reliability-award/n25377