A family was left fearing for their lives when their Land Rover suddenly exploded into flames on a country road as the children were told to ‘run as fast as you can’.
Caroline Rodda’s Land Rover 110 Defender SE240 burst into fire coming back from their holiday.
Mrs Rodda, 48, her husband Grant, 52, along with their children and family dog were travelling from Cheltenham towards Hertfordshire on January 3.
While they were driving on the M25, a red warning light came on and the car lost some power.
The car lost speed so they came off the motorway at the next junction – but were startled when it ‘sparked’. The family suddenly heard a loud bang from the front of the car and a flame shot out.
The parents – along with Betsy, eight, and Sunny, seven, who had been peacefully sleeping in the back for the journey – ‘jumped out and ran’.
Mrs Rodda said: ‘The kids were absolutely hysterical – my dog’s seat belt was stuck, and I was screaming trying to get him out.’
Soon after, the ‘whole car burst into flames’. Pictures show the charred remains of the car, with most of the bonnet burned off and the windscreen shattered. The rear view mirror is pictured hanging by a thread while wires are poking out everywhere.
Mrs Rodda, a stay-at-home mother from Brookmans Park, Hertfordshire, said: ‘We were driving up a hill when there was a loud bang at the front of the car and a big flame shot out the front.
‘I woke the kids up, who were in the back of the car, and said: ‘Everybody get out of the car now. Run as fast as you can.’
‘The kids were absolutely hysterical – my dog’s seat belt was stuck, and I was screaming trying to get him out.’
The family had purchased the car in March 2022 and it had last had an MOT in February 2024.
After getting everyone out of the car safely, Mr Rodda, a company director, called the fire brigade to inform them of the ‘terrifying’ experience.
The family was stranded on a pitch-black narrow country road in sub-zero temperatures.
They lost their car and all possessions in it including newly-bought Christmas presents. The Roddas lost Chanel prescription glasses, a Gucci purse, a Mulberry tote bag, two Apple iPads, and thousands of pounds worth of clothes in the fire with an estimated total bill of just under £12,000.
Mrs Rodda emailed Land Rover on January 9 to ask them to open an investigation into the incident.
She said: ‘They’ve been absolutely useless, to be honest. The emails have been going back and forth.’
Last week Mrs Rodda received an email from Land Rover stating that they would be closing their investigation as she had a payment settlement with her insurance company.
From the settlement, the family received £44,000 for the car, which was originally purchased for £70,000, and £300 for possessions lost.
A spokesperson for Land Rover wrote to Mrs Rodda: ‘We will not be able to communicate with you any further as you are no longer the owner of the vehicle.’
She then contacted her insurance company who, she says, branded the situation as ‘ridiculous’ and informed her after carrying out an investigation on March 11, they took away a component of the car and are awaiting results.
Yesterday, after she had sent a document detailing the possessions lost, the same spokesperson sent a follow-up email assuring that she had already been ‘compensated for the alleged loss’ – referring to the £300.
The mother said the incident has deterred her from getting a Land Rover again.
She said: ‘One of the mums at school had her Land Rover catch fire last Friday.’
The family has been nervous getting into cars since and her daughter, Betsy has been struggling with panic attacks at school.
She said: ‘I’ve been having counselling because of the incident. At the time, I was wondering what would’ve happened if the doors had not opened, or if we didn’t get out of the car in time.’
Tracey Tompsett, PR Manager for JLR, said: ‘I can confirm that JLR’s review of the matter is ongoing therefore, until this has been completed, we are not able to comment on the circumstances or cause.’
