2005 Volkswagen Jetta: fire, smoke or burning smell

Filed Mar 8, 2020 · Driver assistance, Electrical · 153,341 miles · MA · fire

On certain passenger, wagon, and convertible vehicles equipped with or without cruise control, a brake light switch may malfunction if it was installed incorrectly. When turning on the car, the air bag default button comes on. The interior lights do not come on. While idle car rumbles and shakes, while accelerating or decelerating car shakes (front end). My fueling system is terrible it seems as if gas sometimes doesn't get to my car it stales very often while driving or braking and accelerating again. Terrible electrical problems. Trunk will not open front light and brake lights work when they want to. When the heater is on it makes loud noise and tick even with the A/C on it does the same thing. While turning it stales and then take off really fast. While idle car rumbles and shakes, while accelerating or decelerating car shakes (front end). My fueling system is terrible it seems as if gas sometimes doesn't get to my car it stales very often while driving or braking and accelerating again. Terrible electrical problems. Trunk will not open front light and brake lights work when they want to. When the heater is on it makes loud noise and tick even with the A/C on it does the same thing. While turning it stales and then take off really fast. The vehicle suddenly caught fire, while idled in a drive thru line at a fast food restaurant. The fire started under the hood.

Filed Aug 13, 2019 · Engine · IL · fire

Tl* the contact owned a 2005 volkswagen jetta. The contact stated that the vehicle suddenly caught fire, while idled in a drive thru line at a fast food restaurant. The fire started under the hood. There were no injuries sustained. The vehicle was completely destroyed and towed to a junk yard. The contact was unsure if a police report or fire report were filed. The dealer mike haggerty volkswagen (8920 s cicero ave, oak lawn, il 60453 (708) 425-8989) told the contact to call the manufacturer. The manufacturer stated that there were no recalls on the vehicle and referred the contact to call the dealer. The failure mileage was unknown.

Filed Jul 2, 2018 · Engine · 139,000 miles · NY · fire · 1 injury

Tl* the contact owned a 2005 volkswagen jetta. While driving 25 MPH, the accelerator pedal failed to respond. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The contact veered off to the shoulder of the road and turned off the vehicle. The contact attempted to restart the vehicle approximately four times, but noticed flames coming from the hood of the vehicle. The contact received minor burns to the right arm that did not require medical attention. The fire department was contacted and extinguished the fire. A police and a fire report were filed. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was determined to be a total loss. The manufacturer and dealer were not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 139,000.

Filed Sep 1, 2015 · Acceleration, Electrical · 119,000 miles · NE · fire

Fuse box on the top of the battery caught fire and melted the fusible link from the alternator to the battery connect. Going at 40 miles per hour and car shuts off, no brakes no power all electrical systems off dash lit up like christmas tree. Thank god for the ditch and that we weren't on interstate otherwise someone could have been killed or injured such as my pregnant wife.

Filed Jul 16, 2014 · Electrical · 150,480 miles · NC · fire

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 volkswagen jetta. The contact stated while driving approximately 50 MPH, the compressor and the fuse box overheated causing the air conditioner to stop working. The problem occurred twice within a year. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who stated that the failure was due to the fuse box catching on fire. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was 150,480.

Filed Jan 27, 2010 · Electrical, Lights · 105,000 miles · PA · fire

Turn signal switch malfunction and fire... Right turn signal activated without switch being activated. After about 5-10 minutes in this condition, smoke came out of steering column. Fire/marking could be seen in the switch area. Eventually the turn signal went out and the smoke/fire stoppped. Vw service replaced the switch and wire harnes. The plactic on the switch and harnes was melted and charred.

Filed Jul 24, 2008 · Engine · 35,000 miles · FL · fire

2005 jetta somewhere under hood spontaneously burst into flames with car parked in a driveway and engine turned off after driving for approximately 20 minutes. Fire consumed entire engine, electrical system, and resulted in a total loss according to insurance adjuster. There were no occupants in the vehicle when the fire started. City of plantation (fl) police and fire departments responded and were able to extinguish fire after 15 minutes.

Filed Dec 15, 2006 · Transmission · 24,355 miles · VA

We asked our dealership to acquire it for us after our 2004 tdi was totaled. Current vehicle is a certified pre-owned we purchased april 25, 2006 with 10583 miles on it. Previous owner was volkswagen of america. On july 2, 2006 while on vacation the clutch completely failed after driving several miles in bumper to bumper traffic it started smoking and then the pedal went to the floor and the clutch locked up. The vehicle then had about 14-15,000 miles on it. A maine dealer determined that the hydraulic cylinder had failed and the entire clutch failed. Took more than two weeks to repair the vehicle. When the vehicle was serviced by our virginia dealer it was reported to us that the transmission was cracked due to improper re-installation. Vehicle then had 17632 miles on it. It took another two weeks to force the maine dealer to pay for the replacement transmission and replace it. On dec. 6, 2006 my wife the valet parking service brought the car to her with considerable smoke coming from the clutch and the statement that it had "burned out" while trying to come up a ramp. The dealership claims abuse caused the clutch to fail and crack the flywheel in three places and warranty for the flywheel was denied. We have owned more than six standard transmission automobiles over our more than 3 0 years of driving experience and have never had a clutch fail other than the 2 failures in less than six months with this volkswagen. Internet research informs us that this is a very prevalent problem with volkswagens. Clearly the dual mass flywheel is defective in this vehicle and the clutch is in general prone to very premature failure.

Filed Nov 21, 2006 · Electrical, Lights · MD · fire

2005 jetta caught on fire while driving. *ts the dealer informed the consumer, that a lot of vehicles were having a lot of electrical problems with the taillights.

Filed Oct 28, 2005 · Electrical · NJ · fire

Dt: the contact stated the vehicle caught on fire. The contact's son was driving and he felt that the vehicle was not getting any fuel. He pressed the gas pedal and then it stalled. He depressed the gas pedal while trying to restart it, and it started smoking. He got out of the vehicle and lifted the hood and it burst into flames. By the time the fire department arrived the vehicle was completely engulfed in flames. The vehicle was totaled, according to the auto body shop the only thing that remained were the head lights. There has been no investigation as to where the fire started. She contacted volkswagen, and they told her there was a recall for a faulty fuel clamp. But she never received a recall letter. There was a police report 5021483 was taken at the scene.

Filed Aug 17, 2005 · Engine · KY

I have encountered several issues the most alarming currently is a smell of burning oil upon heavy acceleration which hasn't been located by the dealer even though the car has been in the shop twice since I purchased the vehicle in may of 05.