2002 Lexus ES Electrical System Problems

I TRIED TO START MY CAR OUT OF NO WHERE IT WOULDN'T START NO WARNING OR ANYTHING I CHECKED THE STARTER THAT WASN'T IT I'M NOT SURE OFF IT'S THE ENGINE OR AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM

I JUST PURCHASED THIS CAR (LEXUS ES 300 2002 SEDAN) FOR MY DAUGHTER LESS THAN A WEEK AGO ON 4/11/2014 FROM A PRIVATE OWNER, WITH 267,000 MILES AND IT RAN WELL FOR A TRANSPORTATION VEHICLE, SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN WELL CARED FOR MECHANICALLY, INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR IS IN GREAT SHAPE AND WAS CHECKED OUT MY FRIEND A LONGTIME MECHANIC. MY DAUGHTER HAD JUST LEFT THE DMV WHICH WAS CLOSED TODAY 4/18/2014 AND STREET DRIVING BACK HOME. THE CAR MADE A LOUD POPPING SOUND, SMOKE STARTED FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND SOON FLAMES AND SHE HAD TO PULL OVER AND DITCH THE CAR. SOON IT BLAZED AND THE WHOLE FRONT END, ENGINE, WINDSHIELD THE FRONT TIRES ALL BURNED. FIRE AND POLICE DEPARTMENTS SHOWED UP, EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE AND DID TRAFFIC CONTROL. THE FIRE DAMAGE WAS CONTROL TO THE FRONT AND ENGINE, THE FIREWALL DID IT'S JOB. ALL THE INTERIORS, DASH AND CONSOLE ARE ALL IN TACT AND IN GOOD CONDITION NO SMOKE DAMAGE. VIN:[XXX] LEXUS ES 2002 INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

THE INSTRUMENTS CANNOT BE SEEN IF THERE IS ANY LIGHT COMING INTO THE CAR. THE RED POINTERS CANNOT BE SEEN. THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR. I SEE THAT IT HAS BEEN KNOWN SINCE 2002 BUT NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO FIX IT. I WONDER JUST WHY?? I DON'T LIKE NOT BEING ABLE TO KNOW JUST HOW FAST I AM GOING, FUEL QUANTITY ETC!! *TR

IN CERTAIN LIGHT CONDITIONS INSTRUMENT PANEL GAUGES ARE IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE.*AK

LIGHT ON DASHBOARD PANEL, AND CANNOT SEE READING OF SPEED. CONTROL PANEL WILL NOT SET BECAUSE SPEED READING CANNOT BE READ DUE THE LIGHT.*AK

OPTITRON INSTRUMENTATION: NOT EASY TO READ IN BROAD DAYLIGHT. WHEN DRIVING, IT'S IMPORTANT TO KEEP YOUR EYES ON THE ROAD. UNDER NORMAL DAYLIGHT CONDITIONS, INSTRUMENT READINGS ARE VIRTUALLY INVISIBLE. CURRENT SPEED NECESSARY TO SET CRUISE CONTROL. POOR DESIGN: AT NIGHT, OR UNDER LOW AMBIENT LIGHT CONDITIONS (DUSK, HEAVY SHADE, RAIN, ETC.) INSTRUMENT LIGHTING IS EXCEPTIONAL: ALL ELEMENTS OF THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER ARE VERY CLEAR, VERY VISIBLE. UNDER NORMAL DAYLIGHT CONDITIONS (WITH SUN OVERHEAD - NOT SHINING DIRECTLY ON THE PANEL) THE ILLUMINATION LEVEL WITHIN THE CLUSTER IS INSUFFICIENT TO PROVIDE EASY VISIBILITY. (STARING INTENTLY WILL YIELD RESULTS - A DEFINITE SAFETY ISSUE IN A MOVING VEHICLE.) IN ORDER TO SET THE CRUISE CONTROL, IT IS NECESSARY TO KNOW EXACTLY WHAT SPEED THE VEHICLE IS AT: VERY DIFFICULT TO SEE IN BROAD DAYLIGHT. (THE MAUFACTURER ADVERTISES THEIR OPTITRON INSTRUMENTATION AS "ILLUMINATED FOR FASTER AND EASIER READING".)*AK

WHILE APPLYING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE VEHICLE HESITATED TO ACCELERATE. CONSUMER TRIED NUMEROUS TIMES AND SUDDENLY THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED UNCONTROLLABLY. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT COMPUTER NEEDED TO BE REPROGRAMMED. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK *TC *JB

INSTRUMENT GAUGE INDICATORS ARE UNABLE TO READ WHILE DRIVING DURING DAY LIGHT HOURS. DEALER NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

LIGHTS TO READ SPEED ODOMETER AND GAS, ARE HARD TO READ, CAUSING CONSUMER TO ONLY SEE IN DARK AREAS, AND NOT DURING DAY TIME.*AK

INSTRUMENT CLUSTER GAUGES HAVE RED NEEDLES AGAINST A BLACK BACKGROUND WHICH ARE DIFFICULT TO SEE IN DAYLIGHT CONDITIONS, ESPECIALLY IN FULL SUNLIGHT AND ARE IMPOSSIBE TO SEE WEARING SUN GLASSES. THIS, IN MY OPINION, CONSTITUTES A SAFETY HAZARD, BEING UNABLE TO READ THE GAGES, ESPECIALLY THE SPEED.*AK