Sears Automotive (Temecula, CA), Sedgwick Insurance Sears Caught my Truck on FIRE!! Temecula California

On the morning of August 26, 2007, I took my truck to the Sears Automotive Department, located at 40680 Winchester Road, Temecula, California for an oil change and tire rotation. Shortly thereafter, I received a phone call asking me to come back because there had been a small electrical fire in the engine compartment. Promptly, I arrived at Sears to find my truck covered in fire retardant, the engine compartment badly burned, and body damage that resulted from the fire department's efforts to extinguish the blaze. Ultimately, my vehicle was left inoperable. Toyota of Temecula Valley's estimate to return my vehicle to pre-fire condition was $5,000, which when compared to the value of the vehicle ($3,000) was an impractical option, rendering it a total loss. This truck was my daily driver, the only vehicle I possessed, and had been a reliable source of transportation for over 13 years.

Diane Valdez from Sears' Loss Prevention Department quickly offered me a rental car pending the Fire Department's investigation of the incident. I accepted the rental and awaited the Fire Department's official report. However, as a result of being without my vehicle for 64 days I have incurred additional costs. To adequately insure the rental vehicle I paid $616.19 in additional charges .

The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection's (CDF) report that states the cause as "a rag that was left in the motor compartment." The CDF's report additionally estimates the value of my vehicle at $3,000 (incident number # 0074574). There have been no recalls on my make and model vehicle which could have been related to the fire.

I have been given the run around regarding the value of my vehicle from their Insurance company (Sedgwick)and Sears automotive. I am shocked that Sears Automotive would knowingly treat military personal as myself in such an aloof and malicious manner!

Burned up
Temecula, California
U.S.A.