2002 Volkswagen Jetta: fire, smoke or burning smell

Filed Apr 5, 2016 · Body, Electrical · 172,000 miles · OH · fire · 1 injury

Tl* the contact owned a 2002 volkswagen jetta. While entering the vehicle, the contact noticed that the brake warning light was illuminated and the windows were steaming. In addition, the dashboard was on fire. The fire department extinguished the fire. A fire report and a police report were filed. The contact sustained a burned hand injury, but did not need medical attention. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. The vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 172,000.

Filed Sep 3, 2015 · Electrical · 137,000 miles · CA · fire

Tl* the contact owned a 2002 volkswagen jetta. While driving at approximately 35 MPH, there was smoke and fire underneath the glove compartment box. The contact exited the vehicle with the child before the vehicle became engulfed in flames. The fire department filed a fire report and extinguished the fire. There were no injuries. The vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 137,000.

Filed Jun 28, 2015 · Electrical · 156,861 miles · CA · fire

While reaching home, I saw smoke coming out of engine, smell of heated plastic, and the alternator warning lite on. Switched off the car and opened the hood. Noted that the smoke and smell was coming from the plastic fuse box that is on the top of the battery and that the fuse box cover had burnt hole. The wire from the alternator to one of the fuses in the fuse box had melted the plastic. I replaced the fuse box, cleaned the wire and attached it back. On 6/23/15, I was unable to start the car. The battery was weak and noted that one of the fuses in the box had melted the plastic.

Filed Jan 17, 2015 · Brakes · 146,000 miles · PA · fire

I was driving my car when all of a sudden my check engine light came on and was flashing and my battery light came on. I was about to switch lanes to pull over and I lost power, brakes, and steering. I just made it into a parking lot about five feet from a building when my car all of a sudden started smoking. I popped my hood but it wouldn't come open. Within about a minute and a half my hood started melting sparks were falling from the underneath of my car and through the grill I could see a small fire. Within two minutes my car was on fire! I had to call to fire department and my car is completely totaled and burnt to a crisp ! Before the fire department came a volunteer fire fighter just happened to drive by and fire extinguished it but it didn't do a thing. Now I am out my car...my lively hood..and the $4500 I spent 1 year ago.

Filed Feb 19, 2014 · Brakes · 220,000 miles · OH · fire

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 volkswagen jetta. The contact stated the vehicle engulfed into flames while parked and unoccupied. In addition, one or two days prior to the failure the ABS warning indicator illuminated. The fire department extinguished the flames and advised that the fire originated near the ABS control module. The engine compartment was completely damaged and the vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. There was a recall associated with the failure under the federal safety agency campaign id number 02v031000 (service brakes, hydraulic) however, the contact's VIN was not included. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the problem. The approximate failure mileage was 220,000.

Filed Jan 22, 2013 · Seats · IL

Turned the drivers side heated seat warmer on to 2. Range being 0-5. I smelled smoke and turned it off after only 10-15min of being on. I noticed when I got out of the car, that I had a huge quarter size hole in my seat and my down coat was burned through in 2 large spots. This is unsafe. It could have been a huge fire if I had not turned off the warmer as soon as I smelled something burning.

Filed Dec 17, 2011 · Electrical, Seats · 143,050 miles · UT · fire

While driving home at night, my son and I smelled smoke. We exited the vehicle, checked under the hood, but found nothing. We continued home and parked in the garage. Still smelling smoke, we re-inspected the vehicle, but were unable to determine an origin or any visible evidence. Both seat heaters were on during the drive home, but the seats showed no visual signs of damage after parking. Next morning we opened the vehicle to discover the cabin was filled with smoke with an approximate 1?hole burned up thru the passenger seat on the lower right bolster. Apparently the seat heater initiated a thermal event which erupted in a seat fire after we turned off the ignition and parked the car in the garage. Fortunately, the fire did not engulf the vehicle or it could have caught our home on fire, resulting in possible injury or death to my family. I believe we dodged a bullet because the seat fire did not sustain itself and engulf the vehicle. Vw has agreed to repair the burned seat at their expense and make a mitigation repair. However, vw has declined my request to cover any similar mitigation repair to the other seat. In october 2004, the federal safety agency odi concluded that ?driver-side seat heater may fail or malfunction due to normal vehicle use? But ?such failures do not pose a significant risk of injury or fire.? The odi stated the investigation did not conclude that a safety-related defect does not exist and the agency will take further action if warranted by the circumstances. (ea04010) evidence and reports indicate that seat heater caused thermal events in both driver and passenger seats in the vw jetta have been an issue for nearly 10 years now. Near misses continue to occur. I believe that a seat fire is a significant safety concern. I would encourage the federal safety agency to re-examine the circumstances to determine if further action is warranted.

Filed Oct 17, 2011 · Engine · 70 miles · WI · fire

We were traveling 70 MPH on a highway in our 2002 volkswagen jetta wagon (gls 1.8t) when, without warning, an loud "poof" sound was heard, the car lost all power, and we smelled burning plastic. The car regained power, then a second "poof" sound was heard, and the power flickered in the car, at which point the car began filling with smoke. We rolled down the windows, pulled over to the shoulder, and evacuated the vehicle. We pulled out what belongings we could, but retreated from the car once flames appeared on the driver's side interior. Approximately 1 minute later, the entire car was engulfed in flames and was a total loss. We are thankful to have escaped with our lives. Here are the specifics of our vehicle: model:jetta trim:gls body style:4 door wagon engine:1.8l i4 20v mpfi dohc turbo transmission:automatic.

Filed Jan 1, 2011 · Airbags · 134,200 miles · CO

I was driving my 2002 vw jetta, my 6 year old was riding in the backseat in the passenger side when the passenger side curtain airbags spontaneously went off!!! It sounded like a shot gun went off in the car, scared both of us!! I did not hit anything, anyone, no one was even driving around me! It was crazy! I thought the car was on fire due to the smoke coming out of the airbag.... No on was hurt but it was terrifying and it could have been a lot worse!! I am the original owner of the car, bought it new in 2002. It's been a great car, I've owned vw's for years and over all, they are great vehicles but this has really freaked me out! I took it to the dealer and they ran a diagnostic, turns out the computer in the car said there was a crash - this is no physical evidence of any damage on the car to justify this happening! The cost to repair it is 5300.00!!! The care likely isn't even worth that. The next step is to contact vwoa. I just read of some other instances this happened and looks like vw did repair the airbag at no charge. I'm hoping they do it for me, otherwise, I'm out of a vehicle. There's no way I can sell it like that, I've just lost what ever money I might have been able to sell that car for..... How many other complaints have been filed pertaining to this issue?? [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).

Filed Feb 24, 2010 · Seats · 115,900 miles · VA · fire

I turned on my seat warmer on the driver side and after a while a burnt smell was notice. I could not find the origin until I went to a store and tried to paid. I took my wallet out and it was stuck to my pants. The wallet had the mysterious smell. I went back to the car and the seat had a big burnt hole on the leather seat. If I had not had my coat and wallet on the left side I could have been electrocuted or caught fire.

Filed Dec 10, 2009 · Seats · 101,300 miles · NY · fire

Passenger leather seat caught fire while heated seat was on. Burned a hole in the seat and electrical smoke was pluming out of the hole. This has only occurred once because it has not been used since. The failure has not been corrected.

Filed Jul 19, 2009 · Transmission · 72,200 miles · MN

I purchased a 2002 volkswagen jetta 1.8t with a 5-speed manual transmission from a private seller on 07/18/2009 at 12:00pm. 12 hours later, at 12:00am on 07/19/2009 I am on my way home when I realized my jetta was not delivering power to the wheels. The engine was producing power, but something was wrong with the transmission. I smelled something burning (transmission fluid, most likely) and parked it immediately. When I got home, I searched online for what it could be and it turns out I am not the only one this has happened to. There are countess others who have posted this same problem on various message boards and forums all over the internet. I am assuming that the repair shop is going to tell me that the transmission is shot and that I will need to replace it. How can my previous car, a junker hyundai accent with 101,000 miles at time of purchase last 36,000 more miles with a 5-speed manual, and a jetta can't even last one day? I am infuriated because I just bought this car and have to make payments on it as well as repair the thing. This should be covered by vw as a recall.