Van blaze on A-7 cause tailbacks – Why do so many vehicles catch fire on the Cuesta de Higueron?

Drivers encountered major chaos on the A-7 motorway on Monday, March 30. A white van burst into flames between Benalmadena and Fuengirola while travelling towards Malaga. Traffic officials report five kilometres of severe tailbacks building rapidly as emergency services work at the scene and attempt to clear the burnt-out vehicle safely. But this has become an all too familiar sight on the same stretch of road with cars and vans bursting into flames, posing the question of why here on the Cuesta de Higueron.

Steep hill gradients create mechanical stress

Uphill sections at the Cuesta del Higueron force engines to operate at maximum capacity for extended periods or in sudden bursts. Temperatures rise dramatically inside vehicle engines during the climb, especially in warm weather conditions.

A mix of heavy vehicles and lorries as well as cars converge from the AP-7 toll road and A-7 motorway shortly before the steep climb that passes Benalmadena. This latticework of moving vehicles inevitably ends in bottlenecks, sharp braking, followed by hurried over-accelerating, revving engines on the start of the climb more than some lesser-maintained engines are prepared for. This kind of stop-start extreme on the engine can lead to rapid overheating. And in the summer heat, the incidents increase with the temperature, on occasion leading to engine fires and sometimes even roadside bush fires.

Inadequate vehicle preparation adds danger

Many rental cars and older models lack thorough recent maintenance or topping up of oil or coolant. Overheating and fires result more easily when such vehicles face demanding gradients and stop-start conditions in dense traffic flows.

Multiple causes explain repeated incidents

Geography, intense usage patterns and variable maintenance standards together explain why this specific location sees frequent vehicle fires and breakdowns. Drivers benefit from checking coolant levels and tyre condition before using the busy Costa del Sol route, where congestion remains a daily issue for everyone. Should your car catch fire on the Cuesta de Higueron, the DGT are unclear on if you still need to put the V16 beacon on top of the flaming vehicle.