2000 Volkswagen Passat: fire, smoke or burning smell

Filed Jul 10, 2019 · Engine, Fuel system · CA · fire

Tl* the contact owns a 2000 volkswagen passat. While driving approximately 20 MPH, smoke billowed from under the hood of the vehicle. The contact was able to safely leave the roadway, the hood was raised and flames appeared in the engine compartment. The fire department arrived and extinguished the fire. A fire report was filed. The vehicle was not towed and remained at the scene. There were no injuries. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. An unknown dealer was notified of the fire. The vehicle was included in the federal safety agency campaign number: 08v156000 (fuel system, gasoline). The manufacturer was not contacted. The insurance company was not made aware of the fire. The contact was unsure if the vehicle was destroyed. The failure mileage was unavailable.

Filed Sep 19, 2012 · Body, Engine · 152,000 miles · PA · fire

I am the second owner of this 00 vw passat . This car has been a great running and driving car. I bought it in feb 10 2012 . On sept 17 2012 my wife was driving this car to my sons football game with my mother in law. She was going about 50 MPH when it shuttered and shut off . She was able to get it off the side of the road and stopped and when she opened the car door there were flames coming from under the hood she went to the other side of the car and helped her mother out of the car. The flames were spreading so fast they were not able to get anything out of the car. By the the time they got to the other side of the road away from the car the whole car was on fire. And when the fire department got there there was nothing left but some melted things in the trunk. I am just happy they made it out ok but what worries me is that it happened so fast and that there were no signs of anything wrong with the car .I have seen on the internet that this is not a isolated incident with this 00 passat. I have seen pictures and video of the same car with the same results. So right now I am at a total loss this being a second car I only had liability insurance all I can do is hope that someone can stop this from happening to someone else and it should be volkswagen's responsibility to find who owns these vehicles and fix the problem.....

Filed Jun 12, 2012 · Engine · 13,430 miles · CA

Check engine turned on. My car starts to lose power. There was a misfire at #2 cylinder according to the auto mechanic.. In a stopped position or when I turn car off, I smell something burning. Had new coil installed and did a road test. The car was still misfiring. Checked again, and all ignition coils needed to be replaced. In 01/2012, again, there was a misfire at the #2 cylinder. The burning smell returned. I had that repaired. In 05/2012, again, there was a misfire at the #3 cylinder. The burning smell returned. I had that repaired.

Filed Nov 27, 2011 · Electrical, Fuel system · AL · fire

The car was parked. I attempted to start the engine, but it did not turn over. I tried a second time and noticed white smoke coming from under the engine hood. By the time I went inside to call for road service and returned to the parking lot, there were flames shooting from under the hood. The car was destroyed.

Filed Jan 31, 2011 · Engine · 100,000 miles · CA

In the last couple years my 2000 vw passat has a burning smell like a fire in the engine after driving a bit (I've noticed this particularly when the heater is on), has hesitated and jumped when I've tried to shift gears and accelerate, and a while ago the "check engine" light was going on when this hesitation occurred; although this light hasn't come on in the same situation lately, and the hesitation itself doesn't seem to be occurring as much as before. At any rate, I still get the burning smell and recently read that there is an investigation on this very make and model by the federal safety agency for said problems. My mechanic has been saying all along there is no problem, but perhaps he doesn't know of this investigation. What should I do?

Filed Aug 9, 2010 · Electrical · 201,700 miles · WV · fire

Was driving down the road today 8/9/10 in my 2000 v w passat and my car started smoking through the vents. No warning prior to the smoke. Flames began shooting out from under the dashboard totally engulfing the entire car within minutes resulting in a total loss of the vehicle. There had been no prior problems with the vehicle until this event.

Filed Jun 17, 2009 · Electrical · 89,000 miles · OR · fire

My 2000 vw passat was parked for approx. 45 minutes then the engine caught on fire. The only "problem" I had with the vehicle was when I was trying to lock it with the electronic key it would not "beep". I moved closer to the vehicle two times and only the rear tail lights faintly flickered. No beep. Other than that there were not problems whatsoever. The fire was in the engine. The interior of the car was not damaged except for when the fire department came and broke out the windows. Tires and engine melted. I have pictures I can send.

Filed Dec 5, 2008 · Fuel system · 119,000 miles · CA

Volkswagen has a recall due to fire hazard. Because I live in a small town, the nearest volkswagen dealership is in the next state. When I explained this to the volkswagen people they said I had to do this recall at a dealership with no compensation from them for my time or my expense. They also said that since I called them, they are no longer liable for this problem if my car caught on fire. I told them that I am not waiving any of my rights with this phone call and asked to have the call recorded. The nearest dealership is a six hour drive from my residence and be expected to wait three or more hours for the replacement on my vehicle to be done. This is unacceptable for me due to the fact that I am disabled and on a limited income. We have a volkswagen repair shop here in my town. German motors 1065 k st arcata ca 95521 they will not let me have the recall done there.

Filed Sep 22, 2008 · Engine · 127,000 miles · PA · fire

2000 passat wagon 1.8 caught fire and burned - its was not running and was parked for 20 min then fire started under the right side of the engine.

Filed Jul 3, 2008 · Electrical, Fuel system · 80,000 miles · MD · fire

Heat shield caught fire while driving down the road. I had bought the car from carmax who had lied about the auto from the broken seatbelts forward on the day of sale. Vw dealership repaired auto after fire but another mishap with heatshield when it fell off and under the passenger front tire @ 65 mile per hr, while driving down turnpike. I was not injured thanks to a truck driver who assisted my navigation to the side of the road and cut off the shield so I could return home. The tie rod was damaged and had to be replaced, since the fire the car has never been the same and has been a hazard, stalling on a beltway, etc... No apparent reason for this was found on a diagnostic machine as it has been checked several times..it is when the emission light comes on and a bad sensor needs replaced or switch. But nothing fixes this car for long.

Filed Jun 25, 2008 · 58,000 miles · CA · fire

A fire occurred in the passenger compartment of my 2000 volkswagen passat 4motion wagon. The fire occurred while I was traveling east on us 80 near auburn. My life was saved because a county sheriff was traveling behind me and summoned the fire department and police as I hurried to exit ca 49 at auburn, california. Flames and smoke filled the passenger compartment, which the fire department flooded. The car has been totaled. I have instructed my insurance company, aaa, not to destroy the car for parts in light of the vw safety recall 26e5/rf (1999-2002 model year volkswagen passat and passat wagon.) I incurred considerable expense (car rentals over the six months that aaa insurance took to settle the claim). I have also had to purchase a new vehicle at a cost to me of more that $25,000 over the paid claim. I would like to be made whole, following this costly and extremely dangerous situation. The fire department and aaa determined that the fire was an electrical fire that began in the electrical system behind the dashboard in the passenger compartment. Mary coady

Filed Jun 21, 2008 · Engine · 104,413 miles · NY · fire

2000 passat auto transmission began to catch on fire near engine and where exhaust meet. My son and a friend both 20yrs old were driving late at night when this occurred. I thank god it did not end tragically.