This troper's roommate was rear-ended on an Interstate and pushed forward into the stopped car in front of her. Having apparently been taught by television, she frantically rolled down her window and crawled out of the car, believing it would soon explode.

This is justified in a story this troper is writing, as the main character uses high explosive incendiary bullets when he shoots cars.

Occured in a car crash this troper's mother witnessed. A motorcyclist wasn't paying attention and an SUV trying to avoid him ended up crashing into another car. Long story short, by the end of it there were seven cars in various states of destruction across the road, several of them having burst into flame.

Subverted by this troper's father's Pinto. He (The father, not this troper) was heavily into car modification and replaced the metal fuel tank (The cause of Pinto explosions) with a fuel cell tank, added a seat belt, and installed a full roll cage. It was far safer than consumer automobiles at the time. He used the Pinto for street racing.