2000 Volkswagen Beetle: fire, smoke or burning smell

Filed Jun 13, 2018 · Brakes · 100,000 miles · NY · fire

Tl* the contact owns a 2000 volkswagen beetle. While driving 55 MPH, smoke appeared from the rear of the vehicle and the ABS warning indicator illuminated. The contact coasted the vehicle to the side of the road. The contact noticed smoke coming from the rear driver's side area by the tire along with an abnormal odor. The contact stated that the odor smelled like coolant. The contact waited a few minutes and was able to drive the vehicle; however, the failure recurred when the vehicle accelerated between 40 and 60 MPH. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or an independent mechanic for diagnostic testing or repair. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 100,000.

Filed May 21, 2015 · Engine · 85,000 miles · OH · fire

While driving noticed white smoke behind the vehicle, then all electronics failed but car remained running, pulled to side of the road and engine compartment engulfed in flames. The car was quickly on fire from the dash forward. Tried calling vw costumer care and there are no recalls on the vehicle pertaining to fire. After searching online found dozens of similar if not exact incidents. This was my daughters car (17) and carried only liability. Only reason for writing is to educate so that others are not facing a life threatning event, as vw denies any wrong doing.

Filed May 2, 2015 · Electrical · 118,000 miles · CA · fire

My daughter's car was being driven by my niece on the freeway when the light went on signaling it was over heating so she pulled over to a call box and while she was making the call for assistance she heard a pop pop and the front hood was on fire and a man pulled over and tried to put it out with his extinguisher which didn't work and the whole car went up in flames within a matter of minutes. It was completely burned up which also burned down the call box on the freeway. She had just spent aproximately $1, 400 on repairs on the car which was mainly on the cooling system.

Filed Nov 14, 2011 · Electrical, Visibility · CA · fire

Traveling on the crosstown freeway @ the posted speed, I started to engage the vehicle's heater and the power control switch started to malfunction. I turned the power control knob clockwise and noticed slippage of the control knob. I noticed smoke coming from the whole heater control assembly and then an arch, then a smallflame.

Filed Sep 1, 2010 · Electrical, Transmission · 110,000 miles · NC · fire

I have a 2000 vw beetle. I bought this car from the dealership with 100,000 miles on it. The first week it began acting crazy and I took it back to the dealership and I was told "sold as is". I have spent $3000 on this car fixing various electrical problems. This car is extremely unsafe. The transmission needs to be recalled immediately! It jumps and jerks at weird times and almost causes someone to rear end me. I've already invested a grand trying to resolve the transmission issue but the car will act fine for the first few days and then the problem will begin again. The third gear always slips and you get whiplash. It feels as if they gear is about to drop out of the car!! The engine misfires on the highway and no problem can be found by my mechanic. He tells me they are just random misfires! That is dangerous going down the highway at 70 mphs and the car shoot down to 50 and jerk on I-40 in winston salem. In the rain, it will jerk even worse, almost like the transmission is jumping out of the hood! My ABS lights will flash at weird times as well as my brake light. I have had my brakes checked, not the brakes. Something now stays on in the car that no mechanic can pinpoint which causes the battery to go dead everytime you turn the car off. The gauges tend to not want to work some of the time and the mileage will even stop reading. Sometimes the gas pedal does not connect and will stop accelerating eventhough your pushing on the gas upon take off. The alarm goes off at all times during the day and not for no reason and various times when I crank the car. To top this all off, the fuses on top of my battery caught on fire! I was told by my mechanic that this was a common problem, no problems could be blamed for this event. Someone needs to recall something before someone gets hurt!

Filed Jul 26, 2010 · Electrical · 116,999 miles · AL · fire

My daughter was driving her 2000 vw beetle saturday when she smelled "something horrible." she rolled the windows down and the next thing she knew there was smoke and flames coming from the dashboard area. She pulled over and a gentleman behind her put the fire out using a fire extinguisher. She had had problems a few days earlier with the AC not coming on properly. She was planning to take the car to the shop on monday.

Filed Jul 18, 2010 · Engine · LA · fire

My son was driving our 2000 vw beetle on the westbank expressway in new orleans, he heard a loud pop, and the car started to fill with "white smoke", he pulled over immediately, and turned the engine off. Within minutes, the car was on fire. This came without warning, we did not have any issues with the car prior to yesterday, 7-17-10.

Filed Apr 20, 2008 · Engine · 72,500 miles · AR · fire

On april 4, 2008, our 2000vw gls beetle caught fire as it was being driven on the interstate. Car had been hesitating and the check engine light would come on, so we had it serviced at our local vw dealership on march 28. Diagnostics did not find anything wrong. We went ahead as asked for fuel filter and the coolant sensor to be replaced. For the next week, the car continued to hesitate, especially after being driven for more that 20 minutes. We made another appointment with the service department to have it repaired and as my daughter was driving to this appointment she noticed the hesitation again, and about 10 miles later, noticed smoke in the rear view mirror. She pulled off the highway and smoke started pouring inside the car. All of the dashboard lights clicked on, then off. Within 2 minutes, the car was completely engulfed in flames. My daughter was able to get out of the car and was not physically harmed. The car was a total loss.

Filed Mar 1, 2007 · Visibility · 75,800 miles · TN · fire

Tl* - the contact called regarding the 2000 volkswagen beetle. The contact turned on the heater and it would not turn on. The heater eventually turned on, the blower stopped ,and flames started coming from the heater vents. The failure mileage was 75,800. The fire was put out with a fire extinguisher. There were no injuries. The vehicle was towed to a repair shop. The repair shop diagnosed the problem as a faulty heater/air conditioner control switch. The contact contacted the manufacturer and they will not do anything. The vehicle was being repaired at a non volkswagen repair shop.

Filed Dec 13, 2004 · Electrical · 43,000 miles · MA · fire

While driving between 20-40 MPH, suddenly the ventilation panel became hot. When the driver attempted to turn the ventilation system on the knob melted. This was followed by smoke coming out the air vent. Vehicle was engulfed in flames within minutes of the consumer exiting the vehicle, and calling the fire department. The insurance company and a factory representative inspected the vehicle. The cause of the fire was reportedly due to interior electrical system. The vehicle was totaled.

Filed Nov 22, 2004 · Electrical · 50,000 miles · OH · fire

While parked vehicle caught on fire. Vehicle was totaled. *ak a pedestrian informed the fire inspector that the flames was noticed coming from the driver's side of the engine. (electrical fire)

Filed Nov 1, 2004 · Engine · 50,000 miles · OH · fire

After parking the vehicle, within 15 minute or less the vehicle caught on fire under the hood. The local fire department arrived on location to extinguish the fire. The dealer and the manufacturer were both notified. The cause of the fire was still undetermined.