A young woman in Houston, Texas is now left without a car and struggling to replace it after the vehicle she recently bought caught fire while she was driving.
What makes the situation worse is that the car was purchased through a private Facebook sale, and now the seller is nowhere to be found. With no legal protection under Texas laws for private car sales, this story highlights the risks of buying used vehicles online—and the emotional toll it can take.
When Did the Car Fire Happen?
According to a report from Click2Houston, the incident took place on March 27, 2025. Jayanna Williams had recently purchased a 2006 Nissan Murano through a Facebook Marketplace deal. She was using the SUV mainly for making deliveries to support her education in the medical field.
While driving through Houston, another driver suddenly tried to get her attention. That person shouted, “Your car is on fire!” Williams acted quickly and exited the vehicle just in time.
In her own words:
“I’m so glad that I did because if I didn’t, I wouldn’t have been able to get out of the SUV because at that point, everything in the SUV literally melted down to the metal.”
What Happened After the Fire?
Unfortunately, Jayanna lost not just the vehicle but also several important personal items inside. The damage was so severe that the car was completely destroyed.
After the incident, she tried contacting the seller of the vehicle—but things took a disappointing turn. She said:
“I tried calling the seller after the incident, but [they] blocked me… It hurts me more to know that somebody could have done this to me purposely and knowing that there were issues with the SUV.”
This situation has been especially hard for Jayanna as she is a young woman trying to make ends meet, and now she is without transportation.
Why Can’t Texas Lemon Law Help?
A big challenge in this case is that the Texas Lemon Law does not apply to Jayanna’s situation. The law is designed to protect consumers who buy new vehicles from licensed dealerships, not used vehicles bought privately.
Since the car was purchased through a private seller on Facebook, there are no legal protections or refund options available through the law. This leaves Jayanna with very limited options to recover her losses.
Turning to Community for Help
With no help from the seller or the law, Jayanna has now created a GoFundMe campaign to raise money for a new vehicle and to replace lost items. She hopes that people will come forward to support her as she continues working toward her education and career goals.