this is "nightline." >> tonight, car fire mystery. dozens of bmws going up in flames while parked, engines off. >> my car is on fire. >> abc news investigates. luxury cars even destroying homes. >> snap, crackle, pop, and boom, a flame. >> what could be behind the combustions and how is the carmaker responding? why didn't you say this to me when i was alive? >> controversy erupting over the netflix series "13 reasons why." accused of glorifying teen suicide. now one high school answering back. students taking to the loud speakers, broadcasting their own struggle. >> getting teased and picked on for how i look. >> calling me worthless, that i'd be bette

not. >> your words talked me out of hurting myself. >> the stupid body reaction they never expected. and malibu miley. ♪ next year >> the smiley cyrus back with a new love song for liam hemsworth. the not so hidden gem in this music video that pays tribute to her groom to be. ♪ next to you >> first here are the "nightline 5." >> i sneeze. there goes my sensitive bladder. sound familiar? you'll live always discreet. incredible protection in a pad this thin. i didn't think it would work. but the super bowl absorbent core turns liquid to develop gel. i know i'm wearing it but no one else will. always discrete. i've discovered bladder leak underwear that hugs every calf. always discreet underwear for bladder leaks. >> and number one is coming up in just 60 seconds.

good evening and thank you for joining us. tonight a growing and dangerous mystery. s dos of bmw owners claiming their vehicles suddenly caught fire while parked and turned off for hours. what could be the cause? abc's brian ross teams up with our stations across the country to investigate. >> reporter: the owner of this bmw told us he still can't believe what happened to his car. >> oh my goodness! >> reporter: after he went inside to his office for the day. >> i had parked it for maybe, say, five minutes. it was completely turned off. >> reporter: but then over the next nine minutes and 15 seconds, as this home video shows, a white wisp of smoke coming out of the front hood followed by heavy smoke, then flames. >> yeah, it's on fire. >> i'm so scared. >> reporter: e

>> reporter: as firefighters arrive. they struggle to put it out. in the end, a total loss. and a very big question of why for the owner for bmw. >> i definitely feel there's something that should be investigated as to why this is occurring. >> my car is on fire. >> jimmy: it is a question being asked byes dos of bmw owners around the country. >> i hadn't driven all day. i'm standing there in shock, shaking. just like, oh my god, i can't believe this. how did this happen? >> what type of vehicle is on fire? >> reporter: and by fire departments too. >> a bmw, black bmw. >> reporter: all involving bmws described as safely parked and turned off. >> that's not supposed to happen. when a car is off and it catches fire, you've obviously got a problem. >> reporter: bmw says it has found no problem or defect for bmw owners to be worried about. but an investigation by abc

>> fire was coming out from under here, going up the side of the car. >> reporter: and our abc-owned stations around the country -- >> they want to know why their high-end vehicles, many of them parked, suddenly caught on fire. >> reporter: discovered dozens of such mysterious fires over the last five years. including this bmw just last month in southern california. >> had parked the car, went inside, was doing what i needed to do. woke up to -- a car on fire. >> reporter: the owner's darth vader costume, which he uses for children charity, was spared. in suburban new york, firefighters were stunned when they learned how long this car had been parked before catching fire. >> it had been parked for three or four days. which we thought was a little peculiar. >> what if that car had been in the garage? >> we would be having a different conversation right now. >> reporter: but that is of great concern. >> house on fire, right next to the house -- >> reporter: in gloucester, massachusetts, earlier this year a fire in

quickly spread to the house. >> now the house is on fire. >> reporter: the car had been parked for five hours and not moved, according to the deputy fire chief steven ayello. that surprise you? >> very surprising, the first one i had heard of in 32 years on the job. i think most people think once they turn the key of their igniti ignition, the vehicle is off and that's it, it can't accidentally catch on fire. in this case, that's what happened. >> reporter: and what happened in maryland outside washington, d.c. where the residents were lucky to get out in time. >> i think this was a five-alarm fire. >> the wife had an office in here. well that got completely destroyed. >> reporter: bigg maco says his wife parked their bmw x5 suv in the garage. >> there is black smoke and snack, crackle, pop. then flame. you cannot do a thing excep

talked with, maco, a long-time bmw customer, said bmw gave him the cold shoulder after the fire. >> i feel like i'm just tossed aside. you know, it's just a number. not even an apology. so -- that's the sad part. >> reporter: bmw says it has nothing to apologize for. its executives refused repeated requests from "nightline" to appear in our report. but in a written statement bmw said, based on its investigation, it has seen no pattern related to quality or component failure. and it said these fires could be caused by outside factors, including poor maintenance or rodents' nests. >> we don't make sports cars -- >> reporter: with almost 5 million bmws on u.s. roads, the company says such fire incidents are rare. its brand is built on its high performance, precision german engineering. >> we only make one thing. the ultimate driving machine.

fires now may raise questions about bmw's reputation for excellence. according to lawyers who have been hearing from bmw owners. >> it's a pattern that bmw is uniquely qualified to remedy. >> but they have not? >> they have not, no. >> reporter: joseph santoli says angry bmw owners like oscar and sarah day are telling him bmw is refusing to deal with the problem. >> i wish they'd do something -- do the right thing. that's all i'm hoping for. >> i have heard from owners that when they confront bmw about their incident, they're told that this is the first time that bmw has ever heard of it. >> can that be true? >> i don't believe it can, no. >> so what's happening? >> i think some of it is an example of bmw burying their head in the sand. >> reporter: car fires and

uncommon. but almost entirely for problems when cars are being driven. >> the number of those in which the car is actually off and sitting for a long time are very few -- >> reporter: auto safety expert shawn cain says what's causing this series of fires in parked bmws is a mystery that likely grows out of the fact that cars now are never really completely off. >> the answer, whatever it is, is going to be in here somewhere? >> the answer's going to be there, sure. >> even when you tour turn the car off, it's not really off? >> the engine may be off. but all the electrical power systems that are going to do things like keep the high pressure fuel pump ready, the door lock sole noids powered, entertainment system, all these things are drawing from the battery, still drawing energy. >> reporter: bmw has issued its own recalls over the years for fire-related issues. but in at least 43 of the cases we found, there were no such open recalls. not for the 2008 bmw that led to this huge fire in maryland. not

no recall for the 2016 bmw that caught fire three months ago in massachusetts. >> this is a 2016 vehicle, a brand-new vehicle. >> reporter: bmw told us it is now investigating this case. but deputy chief ayello says while he's had a lot of calls about the mysterious fire, he's not heard from bmw. you've heard from fire departments, car owners? >> other fire departments, other car owners, other people of interest, fire investigators. >> all contacted you? >> yes. >> but bmw did not contact you? >> no, bmw has not reached out to me. >> reporter: for bill maco in maryland, after that huge fire, his insurance company is covering the cost of rebuilding, including a new garage. >> i'll park my vehicles in it but it will never be a bmw. so that won't happen, no. not at all. >> reporter: for "nightline," brian ross, abc news, new york.

next yehere, how high schoo students are turning the tables on the controversial netflix series "13 reasons why." later, the new video "malibu" from mylie cyrus with a sneaky reference to liam hemsworth. ♪ ♪ next to you in malibu digestive sensitivities, you hae some foods leave your stomach in knots... (groan) ...with bloating, discomfort, cramps, and gas. (sigh) try pronourish drink, a unique nutritional drink that's high in protein and fiber. and pronourish has no gluten or high fructose corn syrup, and it's low in fodmap ingredients that may trigger digestive sensitivities. it's your delicious anytime, anywhere mini-meal or snack. pronourish. nutrition you can feel good about. (vo) more "dper rollres for mom" pronourish.

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rrator: "the time is to do what is right. ralph northam. army doctor during the gulf war. volunteer director of a pediatric hospice. progressive democrat. in the senate, he passed the smoking ban in restaurants, stopped the transvaginal ultrasound anti-choice law, and stood up to the nra. as lieutenant governor, dr. northam is fighting to expand access to affordable healthcare. ralph northam believes in making progress every day. and he won't let donald trump stop us. the new netflix series "13 reasons why" has sparked controversy with some critics accusing the show of glorifying

students at one high school in michigan have responded with a ground-breaking and brave project. here's abc's gloria riviera. >> i would have very, very degrading texts sent to me, calling me worthless, that i'd be better off dead. >> reporter: these high school seniors have carried dark and painful secrets with them for four years. >> there was one girl that said really mean things. why don't you just kill yourself. >> ever since i was little, i remember getting teased and picked on for how i look. >> am i actually going to come to school today, go through this again? >> reporter: the voices of michigan's oxford high school. they say what happened to them is happening to kids everywhere. >> a lot of people and parents want to believe that doesn't happen to their child. saying, oh, my child would never do that, that would never happen to my child. but that's being naive. >> it's me. live and in stereo. no return engagements. no encore. >> reporter: until the controversial netflix series "13 reasons why" cam

students never really talked about it. >> i've at least been through every situation in their show, or one of my close, close friends have. >> reporter: the series executive produced by selena gomez chronicles hannah baker who commits suicide. >> why didn't you say this to me when i was alive? >> reporter: but leaves audiotapes behind for the 13 people she blames. >> it's hannah. >> reporter: today schools across the country are grappling with how to handle the show amidst a national backlash. >> controversy surrounding the popular netflix series "13 reasons why." >> sensationalizing teen suicide -- >> reporter: some asking teens not to watch. parents jackson, reportedly struggled in the past, posting on instagram, the show is a warning for bullies but at the same time is also an extremely triggering thing to watch. credit ins say the show glorifies suicide. in part suggesting hannah gets what she wanted. >> it felt like i was already dead. >> reporter: revenge. netflix telling abc news in a

unflinching vision of the show's creators who engage the careful advice of medical professionals in the scriptwriting process. >> i would not, as a parent, advise anybody under the age of 16 or even 17 to watch this show. but i think they are watching it. what we need to do is talk to them about it. >> reporter: the statistics are sobering. young people between ages 10 and 24, suicide is the second-leading cause of death. >> i think it's something that's gone through every high school at one point. >> it's something that's gone through every high schooler's head at some point, that is a major thing to say. do you agree? >> yes. >> yes. >> what do you think about the show? >> some parts i turn awashington because it was a lot to handle. >> like what? >> the ending part. where she kill herself. really hard to watch. >> reporter: here in oxford in recent years, two young students taking their own lives. one after the other. shane reshack and

in response to the show and in honor of them a small group of brave students are taking a drastic step by broadcasting their deepest secrets in the classroom for the entire student body to hear. kayla, the volleyball player. >> this is a story of my life. more specifically, how it almost ended. one day i heard the worst thing someone could ever hear. why why don't you just go kill yourself." i thought to myself, would anything really change if i wasn't here? >> reporter: for 13 days one story shared over the school loud speaker. riley, an aspiring scientist. >> worthless, self-centered, no morals, easy, grimy, cake-face, you would be better off dead. i was afraid from the time you laid your hands on me, from when i started to believe i actually would be better off dead. >> reporter: even jordan, the basketball star. >> a lot of days i'd walk into the school after getting a text like this one. do not talk to me anymore, don't call me anymore, i'm

only reason why you have a relationship with me is for money, you user. it is not easy to hear those words. >> reporter: they call their project "13 reasons why not," singling out at least one person who helped them. kayla thanking friend alexa. >> you to this day may not know your words talked me out of hurting myself. you are one of the 13 reasons why not. >> reporter: jordan. >> suicide's never the answer. there's always a reason why not. be each other's why not. >> reporter: it was a risk for all of them. >> i sat in the men's locker room with my headphones in. heard the announcements. because i didn't want to hear myself. >> i was freaking out all weekend. i had a couple conversations with my parents. they didn't know my story before i aired it. >> reporter: reaction was swift. >> thank god it was all positive. i didn't get one negative thing. i had a couple of students text me like about their problems at home. they had the same story. >> i always just viewed him as the

team and nothing more. then when i heard his tape playing, i got to sit down with him and talk about his story. it completely changed my viewpoint of him. >> reporter: and then what they all hoped. >> 15 minutes after my tape played, a girl who had been abused since elementary school went to the office to get help. >> i think if we get nothing out of this, we have that. >> reporter: for teacher chazz miller, recording their story was eye-opening. >> as a teacher you worry what your kids are going through. we spend so much time with them. we get only so much time to interact with them. you never know what's going on with somebody. >> a lot of teachers have had serious conversations with me about my life. we deserve to get to know each other on a deeper level than a textbook. >> hi, i'm morgan abbott -- >> reporter: the whole project may mean more to morgan abbott than anyone else. >> please remember my sister. please say her name. please choose life. >> reporter: it was her older sister megan who took her own life as an oxford freshman. the victim of cyber bullying. >> megan said, everyone wonders

because i get bullied all the time and i feel unwanted. >> reporter: morgan sharing her story this morning. >> i've had some painful days but i will not ever make the choice my sister made. i will be at prom. my mom will get to be at my high school graduation. >> it's okay. it's okay. >> reporter: mother and daughter say megan would have loved the project. >> yeah. this is when megan would turn 1 -- >> she'd need to hear the other stories, know she wasn't alone, the kids telling the story is more powerful than any adult. >> reporter: for these students the controversy over "13 reasons why" led to unexpected catharsis. >> i think this spire thing has almost created a family in the school. >> there's notes on the bathroom stalls saying, you're beautiful, you're loved, you're strong. >> there's just a change in our culture in school that was much needed. >> reporter: a healing, they say, that could happen at other schools if students are willing to speak up.

oxford, michigan. next, here's something much, much lighter. mylie cyrus dropping a hint about liam hemsworth in the video for her new song "malibu." ♪ in malibu next to you the smoother the skin, the more comfortable you are in it.

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finally tonight, if this keeps up, soon liam hemsworth will have starred in more mylie cyrus songs than "hunger games" movies. ♪ the sky in malibu >> back with another banger. ♪ next to you >> purse returning to the spotlight with a breezy new single "malibu" after a months-long, self-imposed media blackout. ♪ i came in like >> an epic follow-up to "wrecking ball" about her split with fiance liam hemsworth. the new track confirming the duo is back

cyrus sporting her engagement ring in the music bid. last week the star told "billboard" magazine, why not put the power back in my relationship and say, this is how i feel. ♪ sky so blue >> those feelings fueling what many believe is a strong contender for song of the summer. ♪ next to you >> and you can catch mylie cyrus' tv debut of "malibu" at the billboard music awards on may 21st right here on abc. thank you for watching abc news tonight. as always we're online 24/7 on abcnews.com and our "nightline" facebook >> you know how they say "time is money?" well, for one of our contestants today, the next 30 minutes may be worth a cool $1 million. this is "who wants to be a millionaire." [cheers and applause] [dramatic music] ♪ hey, everybody, welcome to the show. are you guys ready to play "millionaire" today? [cheers and applause] let's do it. today's contestant is a singing wait w

for elton john. and yet, he's never seen him in concert. we gotta change that. from new york, new york, please welcome david colbert. [cheers and applause] how you doing, david? welcome. [cheers and applause] you sing for a living. you love elton john. you've never seen him. >> i have not. i, uh, i had tickets to see him once at radio city in 2005, and then i got cast in a show in milwaukee, and i had to give my tickets away. >> well, and you know he's here in vegas from time to time. >> i have heard. >> here's the thing. with $1 million, you could just drop everything and just seek him out and make that-- you could follow him around for a year. you could move in with elton, probably. >> [laughs] i could get vip seats here in vegas, that's for sure. >> for a million bucks, no problem. well, let me tell you how we're gonna make that happen today. this is what you're up against. 14 questions, the money values growing from $500 all the way up to that $1 million. [cheers and applause] every question you answer correctly moves you one step