backfiring
noun1
The occurrence of a backfire.
- Backfiring in mercury arc rectifiers has now been pinpointed as the primary cause of the Glasgow transformer failures. […] The chief causes of rectifier backfiring in the Glasgow units were overheating or unfavourable anode/cathode temperature differential; it has proved possible to overcome these, although occasional backfires do still occur.1962 July, “Failures of multiple-unit electric trains on British Railways”, in Modern Railways, page 53:
2
Figuratively A failure that leads to further misfortune.