2000 Volkswagen Jetta: fire, smoke or burning smell

Filed Jan 25, 2017 · Engine · 192,000 miles · WA · fire

I was driving in traffic around 35 MPH. Saw smoke in my rearview mirror so immediately pulled off to side of road. The car wasnt overheating, and no warning lights came on until after I began slowing down to pull over. As I stopped and turned off the car, I realized the engine compartment was on fire, I grabbed my phone and called 911 as I got away from the vehicle.

Filed Jun 4, 2014 · Engine · 141,000 miles · NC · fire

Was driving down the road, when my jetta lost complete power. I managed to steer of the road, put vehicle in park an turned the key off, then smoke started pouring out from under my hood. Raised the hood to only see flames! Thank god a gentleman stopped an had gallon of water. Had the vehicle towed to my house(3 miles) an there it sits! Most the damage is contained to the top of the motor on the drivers side. The car wasn't even over heating!! The only issue iv had in the year iv owned it is the transmission seemed to not go past third gear, which caused the RPM to rise, of course... Honestly ,just thankful a stranger stopped...signed, with out a car.

Filed Oct 17, 2009 · Electrical, Engine · 120,000 miles · NY

I own a 2000 vr6 jetta and I had to replace the ignition coil twice due to the defects of the ignition coil cracking. I read a complaint about this issue on this website back in 2005 and it is very expensive to replace the ignition coil. While I was driving the car, I lost power and it started to stall on me. I almost got into a car accident on the highway because I panic. I am a college student that relies on my car and I travel 300 miles to college. I noticed a lot of sparks by the ignition coil and I am very scared to drive my car because it might catch on fire. Please help!!!

Filed Jul 15, 2008 · Engine · 155,000 miles · RI · fire

My 2000 vw jetta was being driven today by my fiance on 295 south in rhode island. He noticed the coolant light come on, and so looked at the temp gauge and saw that it had not risen any higher than normal. After keeping an eye on the gauge for a few minutes, he noticed it suddenly drop to 0 and so he pulled over, figuring a hose had broken or something to that extent. When he exited the vehicle he noticed some black smoke coming out from under the hood, and the hood itself starting to bubble from the heat. The car itself burst into flames at that point and my fiance had to back away from it immediately for fear that it would explode. The car had recently been inspected and was working perfectly fine except for a small coolant leak up until today, so we have no idea what caused such a sudden combustion. No one was hurt, thankfully, but it was only a matter of minutes before the car went from operating normally to being completely engulfed in flames, so he could very well have been hurt or worse. The fire dept and state police arrived and secured the area, which included blocking traffic completely on the highway for fear of an explosion, and put out the fire. The car was completely burned beyond recognition.

Filed Mar 7, 2008 · Engine · 70,000 miles · MD · fire

My sister was killed in a fire caused by a 2000 volkswagen jetta. She fell asleep with the car on. The car caught on fire and she was killed. The investigated are saying it was a failure of the exhaust system.

Filed Oct 9, 2007 · Engine · 87,000 miles · PA · fire

Tl*the contact owns a 2000 volkswagen jetta. While driving 2-60 MPH, the vehicle would not accelerate when she depressed the accelerator pedal. The contact had to release then reapply the accelerator pedal. The repair shop stated that the egr cooler clogged the intake manifold. The intake manifold was cleared. The contact drove approximately twenty miles, and then noticed smoke coming from under the hood. The contact took the vehicle back to the repair shop and they stated that the egr leaked. The failure mileage was 87,000 and the current mileage was 92,000.

Filed Sep 17, 2007 · Seats · 99,000 miles · WA

Driving car, using seat heater, started smelling burning smell. When I was able to stop, the leather seat had burned. I am not sure what would have occurred if I had not turned the seat heater off when I did (fire, burn me). Went to dealer today, they said that there was no recall for my vehicle and I would have to repair myself. I feel this is a safety issue, not a wear and tear issue and vw of america should replace/repair at their cost.

Filed Jan 9, 2007 · Engine · MA · fire

Owner's son was driving volkswagen and it started overheating. During the course of the evening, he tried a few times to let car cool down and then continue driving, but the engine would continue to overheat. He managed to continue driving and noticed smoke coming from the back of the volkswagen. He shut the engine off and coasted to a stop. He got out and noticed sparks dripping from underneath the vehicle. The vehicle became engulfed in fire. Cause undetermined, but spark plugs showed evidence of a rich air/fuel mixture.

Filed Jan 5, 2007 · Engine · MA · fire

Owner tried to start engine after vehicle sitting unused for one week. Engine would not start, so owner jump-started it and let it run approximately 5 minutes. Owner then drove vehicle approximately 8 minutes and noticed smoke coming from the center console and the right front of the vehicle. Pulled over and called the fire department. Exhaust system was overheated and showed blue heat discoloration. Plastics and carpet on center floor of passenger compartment were burned.

Filed Mar 16, 2006 · Engine · UT · fire

After coming up a steep hill in a heavy snowstorm, the engine of my 2000 gls v6 volkswagen jetta caught fire and burned up. The car was in excellent condition and well serviced. I parked the car in the garage and there was no sign or smell of smoke. After the third trip out to the car to unload groceries, smoke began to come out from the hood. Fortunately, I was able to get the car out of the garage or my home would have burned to the ground. Despite the cold temperatures and snowstorm outside, flames soon began to drop below the car from the engine and flames 8 feet high engulfed the front half of the car before the fire department could put out the fire. Just before arriving home, by low gas light came on (it was expected), but no warning appeared about the temperature of the engine. I would have immediately pulled over had there been a high temperature warning. The coolant level was normal. Because of the unusual circumstances, I believe the cooling system is faulty.

Filed Feb 23, 2006 · Engine, Fuel system · 98,361 miles · CT

1) I purchased a vw tdi with a diagnosis of a bad turbo and an intermittent check engine light. I had the car seven months and put 12,984 miles on it with no problems. I took the car to the dealer and had the car diagnosed as to why the c.e. Light was on. When asked about repairing the turbo by the counter man I told him I intend to drive it until it breaks then have it repaired. I asked him if there would be a problem doing that he explained to me the car would be sluggish then not run. Vw diagnosed my car as having a "turbo waste gate blown" I deferred the repair intending to drive the car until the turbo went. 2) on the way home, six miles from the dealership, the car ran slightly rough. I observed light smoke coming from my car in the head lights of the cars behind me. I deducted my car was burning carbon since carbon build up was noted on the report. I slightly depressed the accelerator and the car raced forward. I immediately removed my foot from the gas pedal and nothing happened. The car raced forward so quickly and with such force I would compare it to a muscle car being floored. The car kept accelerating. I looked at the tachometer and it was going by 4,000 RPM. This diesel engine was screaming. Instinctively I depressed the clutch to regain control of the car. The engine revved then blew. I was 7 miles from the dealership. Service manger stated that a gasket in the turbo let go causing the engine to suck oil from the crankcase fueling the engine. He told me that nothing could stop the engine from revving not even turning off the key. He told me that all diesel engines were made this way. There is nothing vw could do for me. I called vw customer service, level 2 operator told me since I was told about the turbo being broken there is nothing they can do. 3) my car is sitting with a blown engine and a blown turbo.

Filed Feb 1, 2006 · Seats · OH

I started noticing a burning smell in the car when I turned on the heated seats and the drivers side seat would get very hot, even when set on a low setting. One day I decided to try it out to see if it was working properly or not and the heat burnt holes through the material covering the seat .