1999 Volkswagen Passat: fire, smoke or burning smell

Filed Jun 28, 2022 · Seat belts · OR

Just as I parked, the explosive seatbelt retractor for the rear passenger seat activated. There was a loud pop from the charge and the plastic seatbelt alignment clip flew off, and smoke came out from around the seatbelt. Had the vehicle been in motion there would have been a very serious safety hazard from the distraction, and if someone was in the back, there was the clip that flew off that could have struck them. No one was in the seat at the time of the incident. The seatbelt is now stuck in the retracted position. The component has not been inspected. There were no warning lamps before or after the failure. The climate control system does have an error and is not cooling. The error is for the A/C pressure sensor, so it does not seem related. I do have an appointment for the climate control system, so I can have the component inspected by the service center. Ambient temperature was approx 85F at the time of the incident. The sunroof was set to vent position while driving, and the climate control system fan was operating so interior temp should have been around 85F as well.

Filed Mar 9, 2015 · Acceleration, Engine · 205,029 miles · MD · fire

Passat began to accelerate under no pressure to pedal. Passat started to accelerate fairly slowly but steadily at first, then it increased. It wasn't possible to decelerate/no pressure on the brake pedal stopped the acceleration. It began to reach an unsafe speed then I began to downshift and to apply the brake in sequence to slow the passat, then I tried to slow the vehicle to coast it onto the shoulder, but the speed remained too high to halt the car. Having no other way to slow the vehicle, I started to downshift and to apply extreme pressure to the breaks, and was able to slow the vehicle enough after several miles of downshifting and riding the breaks to reach a point at which I could shift the car into neutral, then began coasting it up a long driveway while the engine continued to race and rev. I then dropped the car into neutral and engaged the emergency break, then forced the trans into park and shut the passat off. The front breaks were both glowing, with the driver's side having burst into flames as a result of the friction and heat from having ridden them for several miles. Shop that examined the passat assessed that the throttle body control module had failed and wasn't communicating with the main on-board computer, and that this type of problem had been seen before on other volkswagen models of the same era. Technician indicated that this was the third time that he'd seen this failure. It apparently usually results in the car coming to a stop although there are other cases customers reported that resulted in the uncontrolled acceleration that I experiences. The breaks and other internal components were significantly damaged as a result of the accident/throttle body failure, and the vehicle had to be scrapped. Someone should research this further as this is a potentially fatal issue. Please contact me if any further information is required to investigate.

Filed Sep 9, 2012 · Engine · 175,000 miles · PA · fire

Was driving vehicle on the highway , the vehicle's check engine light and brake light came on and the vehicle completely shut down , I pulled over to the side of the highway I seen smoke I opened the hood and it was on fire. I called police and fire. The fire was put out the fans are melted and I'm not sure what else is burned , I have no idea what could have started the fire the vehicle is taken care of and there's no warning lights on , on the dash.

Filed Mar 10, 2010 · Fuel system · 190,000 miles · CA

I had my car diagnosed at the vw dealer, and they said there are emission problems related to the recall I recently found on my car, when I called the number on the recall, vw customer service insisted I was not included because my VIN number hadn't been included in the recall. This car regularly smokes, lets off huge smog clouds when I put gas and is a fire risk according to their recall. I don't drive it because I'm afraid it is going to explode into flames.

Filed Feb 27, 2009 · Electrical · 114,646 miles · MI · fire

Electrical fire in a 1999 vw passat. While driving, I had to toggle the fan switch to get the fan to turn off. This slight malfunction was followed by a puff of smoke coming from the center dashboard vent, which was followed by more and more smoke. I pulled over at a auto dealership/service station and asked employees for assistance. By the time they began spraying a fire extinguisher into the vents (about a minute or two after the initial puff of smoke), flames were coming out of the central dash vent. The fire melted the A/C blow control assembly, 3 electrical pigtails and some connectors.

Filed Oct 17, 2005 · Engine · 112,000 miles · NY

Dt: the contact owns a 1999 volkswagen passat. The car has been t dealer, serviced as the original owner on a regular basis. The oil has been changed on schedule. The vehicle has 112,000 miles on it. The contact was informed on 9-30-05 that the engine needed an overhaul, and that it would cost in excess of $1000.00 to replace the valve rings/o-rings). The contact was told that if this was not done oil would leak , and the car could catch on fire. The contact's daughter has a friend who told her that this was a known problem with the 1999 passat. The contact called the manufacturer, and was told the warrant expired, and they could not do anything about it. Also she called bbb and filed a complaint against volkswagen. *ak.

Filed Jun 8, 2004 · Engine · 61,999 miles · WA

While driving at any speed and when the vehicle was parked there was excessive smoke coming out of the right front wheel well. Vehicle had been to the dealer four times for this particular problem. Dealer claimed that the problem originated from oils from the engine.

Filed Nov 21, 2003 · Electrical, Engine · 25,000 miles · PA · fire

Vehicle caught on fire while parked in the driveway. The fire department indicated that the fire started on the right side of the engine. The fire may have been caused by the battery. The vehicle was totaled.

Filed May 28, 2003 · Acceleration, Electrical · 97,000 miles · IA

I had shut off my car and when I went to turn it back on I had no lights, turn signals, dome light, horn, climat control or radio. I took it to the dealer they told me it happens on beetles and golfs all the time and that it was the ignision switch. They showed me the switch when they pulled it out. It had gotten so hot it melted right through the wires. There is no safety recall on this but if it gets hot enough to melt metal it could start the car on fire.

Filed Oct 29, 2002 · Electrical · CO · fire · 1 injury

Car caught on fire shortly after being driven. The car was parked in the garage when the fire started. The fire spread to the rest of the house. The fire was witnessed to originate on the right side (passenger) of engine compartment under the hood. Dt

Filed Oct 3, 2002 · Electrical · PA · fire

Consumer states that while driving and no warning the rear compartment caught on fire causing the consumer to pull over. Dealer notified. Nlm

Filed Dec 21, 2001 · Brakes, Engine · CA

Vehicle stalls intermittently at speeds of 25-65 MPH. Vehicle taken to dealer 10-15 times, cannot find a cause. *ak the mirror switch is inoperative due to window switch failure. The driver seat warmer was inoperative. Engine has a burning smell due to oil leak. Vehicle made noise in front end on left turns due to a stabilizer bar clamp being loose. Front brakes make noise. Steering makes noise and locked while driving. Steering column sliding cover cracked.