A thermoplastic polyester composition comprising, based on the total weight of the composition, a chlorine- and bromine-free combination of: from 40 to 60 wt % of a modified poly(1,4-butylene terephthalate); from 25 to 35 wt % of a reinforcing filler; from 2 to 8 wt % of a flame retardant synergist selected from the group consisting of melamine polyphosphate, melamine cyanurate, melamine pyrophosphate, melamine phosphate, and combinations thereof; from 5 to 15 wt % of a phosphinate salt flame retardant; from more than 0 to less than 5 wt % of an impact modifier component comprising a poly(ether-ester) elastomer and a (meth)acrylate impact modifier; from more than 0 to 5 wt % poly(tetrafluoroethylene) encapsulated by a styrene-acrylonitrile copolymer; from more than 0 to 2 wt % of a stabilizer; wherein the thermoplastic polyester composition contains less than 5 wt % of a polyetherimide.