The end of the assembly line: Shifting patterns of automotive burns

•Automotive burn patterns are changing, radiator burns are the most common pattern of injury.•Mechanics are being injured with increasing frequency.•Opportunities for screening, education, and prevention exist for the burn surgeon to help limit automotive burns. As recently as 2006, carburetor flash burns comprised as much as 27% of admissions for car-related burns, despite the fact carburetors were last installed in pre-1990 automobiles. The prevalence of this injury pattern is related to the estimated 14 million cars on the road today that were manufactured prior to that year. The aim of this study was to investigate modern sources of automotive burns and describe any new trends in automotive burn-related epidemiology. A retrospective review was conducted of all burn admissions from the years 2009–2013 to identify patients who suffered automotive-related burns. Pediatric patients (