1999 Volkswagen Beetle: fire, smoke or burning smell

Filed Jul 27, 2016 · Electrical, Engine · 125,000 miles · GA · fire

Tl* the contact owned a 1999 volkswagen beetle. The contact stated that there was an abnormal noise while driving in the middle lane of the road. The contact stated that smoke emitted near the left part of the dashboard close to the steering wheel. In addition, due to the extensive nature of the smoke, the contact had to engage the hazard lights and exited the vehicle while in the lane. The fire department extinguished the flames. A police officer was present to direct traffic and a report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a yard. The vehicle was not included in the federal safety agency campaign number: 14e007000 (engine and engine cooling). The VIN was included in the federal safety agency campaign numbers: 07v063000 (exterior lighting) and 06v183000 (exterior lighting).the manufacturer was notified of the failure months ago and was to provide further testing to determine the failure. The contact kept calling, but received no response from the manufacturer. The vehicle was destroyed. The approximate failure mileage was 125,000.

Filed Oct 3, 2012 · Electrical · 166,500 miles · CA · fire

Tl* the contact owns a 1999 volkswagen beetle. The contact stated that while at a traffic light she smelled something burning then noticed smoke emitting from the dashboard. The vehicle was able to be driven to the contact home where the vehicle completely engolf into flames. The vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 166,500.

Filed May 15, 2012 · Electrical · 107,000 miles · OH · fire

Tl* the contact owns a 1999 volkswagen beetle. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH, he turned off the air conditioner and noticed smoke coming from the instrument panel. The contact was able to park and exit the vehicle, when the vehicle burst into flames. The fire was able to be extinguished and the vehicle was towed from the scene. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure and current mileage was 107,000.

Filed Jan 29, 2009 · Tires · 108,000 miles · FL · fire

Daughter was traveling down road at 45 MPH (speed limit) and the right front driver's side tire caught on fire due to tread separated from tire. She saw smoke and immediately stopped the car. The fire department came and put out the fire. The car had to be towed to car dealership. The result was the tread separated, damaged oil pan, wrapped around cv axle, melted the transmission mount. The car is beyond repair.

Filed Dec 12, 2008 · Electrical · 136,000 miles · CA · fire

Tl*the contact owns a 1999 volkswagen beetle. While driving less than 30 MPH, the driver could smell a burning odor and noticed white smoke coming from the air conditioning vents. She then noticed black smoke coming from the vents. The driver exited the vehicle and, within minutes, flames engulfed the vehicle. The fire department was called and stated that the fire originated underneath the dashboard; however, this could not be determined definitively. A police report was filed. The failure and current mileages were 136,000.

Filed Oct 5, 2007 · Electrical · 115,000 miles · CA · fire

Failure of dashboard (airconditioning) controls caused car to catch on fire. Car was completely destroyed. Failure to address this defect could cause injury or death.

Filed Nov 28, 2006 · Visibility · 98,000 miles · TN · fire

Dt*: the contact stated while driving 45 MPH on normal road conditions, smoke was noticed coming from under the dashboard. There were no warning lights illuminated. Then, the vehicle caught on fire and was evacuated. There were no injuries sustained. The police and fire department were present, and a police report was taken. The fire department determined an electrical failure from the heater fan was the cause of the fire. The insurance company declared the vehicle a total loss. The manufacturer was contacted however, refused to open an investigation. The contact expressed concern that the fire could have injured an occupant.

Filed Sep 12, 2006 · Electrical, Engine · DE

The car made a funny whistle noise then shut off. The person behind us said blue smoke came out the back. Took to dealer had engine, water pump, turbo and belts replaced. Now dealer can not get car to run properly. The diesel starts fine and runs great after 15 minutes car starts running sluggish and has no power. The car has been at the dealer for 4 months still waiting and still making payments on the beetle.

Filed Jan 13, 2005 · Engine · 36,933 miles · NY · crash · fire

The driver was sitting at an intersection another vehicle rear ended the driver. The driver hit the vehicle in front without warning the vehicle caught fire. No injuries to report. The fire department was called out to extinguished out the fire. The vehicle was towed and totaled out by the insurance company. Please provide additional information. Updated 04/19/06.

Filed Jan 15, 2004 · Engine, Visibility · 23,000 miles · IL · fire

June 2, 2003 the following letter was sent to voa dear volkswagen of america I have a 1999 beetle that caught fire on may 4th 2003; as of today may 12, 2003 this is what I was told by [xxx] from your department. He said, corporate volkswagen will do nothing with the car because it is too old and has too many miles. They will not be sending any kind of paperwork to me, and I will not get any more calls from volkswagen on this issue, this is an insurance issue? I am not pleased with this answer and this is why: 05/04/03 sunday smoke then flames came pouring out of the dashboard of our 1999 vw beatle purchased oct 1998. I was given a case # of [xxx] to refer to. [xxx] said the A/C switch wire caused the fire. He was waiting for a call from volkswagen of america?s customer relation's person. 05/12/03 monday 1:38 pm I called volkswagen of america again because I have not heard from [xxx]. [xxx] got on phone and said that a fire report was sent to their product liaison person. [xxx] said, corporate volkswagen will do nothing with the car because it's too old and has to many miles. They will not be "sending paperwork" to me and ? I will not get any more calls from volkswagen on this issue, this is an insurance issue. I have a record of all past service receipts (dating back to the purchase date) and have documented proof of recent problems and repairs to the A/C and electrical wiring on this car in the past. My daughter, a current resident of arizona, currently is employed as a full-time nanny. She has in her care a two month old and will be expected to drive him about. Her past job was caring for a two year old and had this fire? Erupted while he was in her care, this would have been a true tragedy. Please send verification of your decision in writing to me by may 30, 2003. Please send all inquiries back to me at [xxx] sincerely [xxx] jelinek builders information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).

Filed Apr 2, 2002 · Visibility · AZ · fire

Vehicle was parked when consumer noticed flames 1 foot high coming from dashboard. At dealer at this time, heater switch caused fire.

Filed Sep 7, 2000 · Electrical · CA · fire

Vehicle caught fire on inside of ignition switch box. There was a bad connection in the ignition switch. Fire meleted wires inside the box which caused shutdown in dashboard ie/ headlights/ windshield wipers, and etc. Dealer's remedy was to tighten the wires in ignition box, but the electrical portion of dashboard would periodically go down.