2003 Volkswagen Beetle: fire, smoke or burning smell

5 of the 314 complaints about the 2003 Volkswagen Beetle describe fire, smoke or burning smell.

owner complaints: 5
of this car's complaints: 2%
recalls: 0

Is there a fix? 36 service bulletins cover this area of the car. See below

Fire, smoke or burning smell by model year

2018
1
2014
2
2008
5
2007
1
2004
7
2003
5
2002
3
2001
8
2000
17
1999
13
1998
8

What owners say

Filed May 3, 2018 · Electrical · 90,832 miles · AR

Alternator gets extremely hot, untouchable. Appears to be direct short with heavy load. Melts fuse box on top of battery. Fire hazard. Online search for other events reveal that is common occurrence even resulting in class action suit but still vw will not admit fault. All volkswagon beetles should be removed from the roads, it is a ticking time bomb. I was sitting in my car in my shop checking out systems and saw and smelled smoke coming from front of engine. Vehicle not safe to be on road with engine running. Please require grounding all these vehicles until vw does a permanent fix, even on the ones that have been repaired up until now.

Filed Dec 21, 2017 · Airbags, Electrical · 152,000 miles · TX · fire

Regarding/related to claim 0484819107 69 complaints: 2003 volkswagen jetta seats: front assembly: seat ... I own a 2003 vw jetta 1.8t with front heated seats. Drivers side seat caught fire due to a short in the seats heater 2 days ago on 12/13/2005 after the heater was on for less than 2 minutes. Burning a small hole trough the seat to the bottom area of my left side (buttock) I have come to find since this happened, my the federal safety agency has ... Https://www.carcomplaints.com/volkswagen/.../seats-front_assembly-seat_ heater_cooler.shtml 29 complaints: 2003 volkswagen beetle electrical system problems the problem is that the entire fuse box assembly frequently melts into a glob of plastic, and represents a significant fire hazard. I have owned two new beetles ( 2003 & 2004), and have experienced this problem four time between the two. My own investigation into the cause(s) has shown me that if the vehicle battery is ... Https://whttps://www.carcomplaints.com/search/?cx=partner-pub-6745124734283845%3a6pv4ih4brad&cof=forid%3a10&ie=iso-8859-1&q=vw+fire&sa=search&siteurl=https%3a%2f%2fwww.carcomplaints.com%2fvolkswagen%2fbeetle%2f2002%2fseat_belts_air_bags%2fww.carcomplaints.com/volkswagen/.../electrical_system.shtml wasn't in the vehicle personal assistant/project consultant helping hard working people like you for more than 25 years! [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).?

Filed Jul 8, 2015 · Electrical, Engine · 84,000 miles · AK · fire

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 volkswagen beetle. While driving at 25 MPH, the vehicle stalled and the contact noticed smoke coming from the front of the vehicle. The contact noticed that the fuse box was melted. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the fuse box needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, a few months later,here was smoke the contact noticed smoke and fire coming from the vehicle while it was parked. A police report was not filed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 84,000.

Filed Aug 21, 2008 · Electrical · 54,000 miles · AZ · fire

Tl*the contact owns a 2003 volkswagen new beetle convertible. While driving at an unknown speed, the contact's daughter noticed smoke underneath the dashboard. She pulled the vehicle onto the side of the road and it immediately burst into flames. There were no injuries. The VIN was unknown. The current and failure mileages were 54,000.

Filed Jan 22, 2008 · Engine · OH · fire

2003 volkswagen beetle began to spark while driving. Consumer stated that she pulled over and then it caught fire. *kb the fire started in the engine compartment. Ohio traffic crash report # 10-91-0903