2005 Volkswagen Passat: fire, smoke or burning smell

Filed Mar 2, 2016 · Engine · 95,900 miles · NJ · fire

Car was started at 9:30am at home- last driven night before locally. Car was driven @ 1 mile, parked, engine turned off, doors locked and left in parking lot. At 9:49 the local police called me to alert me that my car was on fire. There is footage of the fire on youtube. Https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iqbndfdjpag the engine ignited for unknown reason. This car in un-repairable, there is no insurance claim. Receipts for work performed on this vehicle at the time of purchase and recent repair documentation is available. Car purchase bill of sale, receipt for title and registration and cost for insuring this vehicle since time of purchase are all available.

Filed Oct 21, 2011 · Seats · TX · fire

On 10/20/11, I started my car and turned on the driver seat heater to 2, to warm the seat. I proceeded to drive to a 9 am appointment within 2 miles from my home. After driving just a couple blocks, I smelled a slight burning smell, but thought it normal since I had not used the seat heater in quite some time; it was just like turning the heat on in a home after several months of non-use. Within a few short blocks, I felt a sting in my left leg and thought it could have been a pine needle, so I shifted my body position to alleviate the issue. After a couple more short blocks, another stinging sensation. At the next stop sign, I reached down with my hand to feel what could be causing the stinging of my leg. I felt a hot spot in the left side of my seat and turned off the seat heater since my seat had warmed enough to be comfortable, but I did not think my seat was burning, so I continued on to my appointment. I went in to my appointment and came out to my car an hour and a half later. I noticed what looked like a small cigarette burn in the seat and a horrible smell in the car. I returned home and told my boyfriend about the incident.

Filed Mar 3, 2011 · Electrical · 70,000 miles · NY · fire

While driving my 2005 vw passat station wagon for about 10 minutes, the check engine light flashed. As I was pulling to the side of the road, the battery light came on. I turned the car off and immediately noticed white smoke coming from the hood of the engine, as well as a brown burn circle. I got myself and my daughter out of the vehicle, and called 911. Within 2-3 minutes, the entire engine was engulfed in flames. The firemen informed me that they believe it started with/near the battery. It was considered an electrical fire. The car had not been acting up, nor had the check engine light been coming on in recent weeks or months. The car is a complete loss. The vw passat was only 6 yrs old, with less than 70,000 miles on it. Regular tune-ups and maintenance was performed on this vehicle. It was shocking how quickly it went up in flames.

Filed Jan 4, 2010 · Seats · 70,000 miles · MA · fire

Tl*the contact owns a 2005 volkswagen passat. The contact stated that the heated seats on the driver side of the vehicle caught fire. He was able to extinguish the fire. The dealer stated that they would notify the contact if there was a related recall and he has not received a response from the dealer. The failure mileage was 70,000.

Filed Nov 4, 2009 · Seats · 160,000 miles · CT

Seat heater remained on after switched to the off position. Heat increased to uncomfortable level, in-dash switch became too hot to touch, and smell of burning plastic filled cockpit (no smoke though).

Filed Aug 7, 2009 · Fuel system · 102,000 miles · NJ · fire

Tl*the contact owns a 2005 volkswagen passat. While driving 60 MPH, the contact noticed that the fuel indicator went from half full to empty. He pulled over to the side of the road and smelled gasoline. Within seconds, the vehicle caught fire. The contact managed to safely exit the vehicle. The manufacturer offered him a settlement of $2,700 because the vehicle was not adequately repaired according to the federal safety agency campaign id number 08v156000 (fuel system, gasoline: delivery). The insurance company stated that the vehicle was destroyed. Fire report number e58424 was filed. The current and failure mileages were 102,000.

Filed Dec 27, 2007 · 40,000 miles · NC · fire

Tl*the contact owned a 2005 volkswagen passat station wagon. While the vehicle was parked, it caught fire. The fire department extinguished the fire. The cause of the fire has not been determined. There is a fire report but the contact does not have a copy. There were no deaths, injuries and no police report. The current and failure mileages are 40000.