2006 Volkswagen Passat: fire, smoke or burning smell

Filed Sep 6, 2022 · Airbags, Engine · PA · crash · fire

The contact owned a 2006 Volkswagen Passat. The contact stated that while her husband was driving in traffic, he rear-ended a vehicle at approximately 25 MPH. The air bags did not deploy upon impact. While her husband was exchanging information with the other driver, the other driver alerted him that his vehicle had caught fire. As her husband attempted to retrieve a fire extinguisher from the truck, he was alerted that the fire had worsened and was instructed to move away from the vehicle. Within minutes, the vehicle became engulfed in flames and was incinerated. A police report was filed. No injuries were reported. The contact had the vehicle towed to her home where it remained in her possession. The dealer nor the manufacturer had yet to be notified of the failure. The vehicle was a total loss. The failure mileage was unknown. The VIN was not available.

Filed Mar 18, 2016 · Engine · 115,000 miles · NJ · fire

Tl* the contact owned a 2006 volkswagen passat. While driving 55 MPH, a loud popping sound was heard and smoke and flames appeared from the engine compartment. Immediately after the contact exited the vehicle, it engulfed in flames. The fire department was contacted and a report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a salvage yard where it was deemed destroyed. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 115,000.

Filed Nov 1, 2015 · Engine · 120,000 miles · PA

I was driving on a highway going towards home and was traveling approximately 65mph when suddenly I heard a loud bang and a smell of something burning and all the dash lights came on and the engine turned off. I coasted to the shoulder of the highway and opened the hood and got out to check what was going on. When I visually inspected the engine compartment I noticed a hole in the intake manifold and looking closer I noticed cracks where the bolts hold the intake manifold on. Also the air filter box mounts are also cracked and that is all I can see without further investigation (removing engine). I towed it to a vw dealership in easton pa where I purchased it. I talked to the service manager and he said they would evaluate it and it cost $129 to tell me that they had to pull the transmission and transfer case down which would cost me an additional $1000 just for the labor and would let me know what else is not broken. I told them no. They would not tell me what they thought was wrong but when I went to the dealership and spoke to the service manager one on one outside the building he admitted that there have been problems with this model and year of vw. I had it towed back to my home. I am mechanically inclined and after some research on the computer saw that many other people with this model and year of vw have had this same issue. The car lost timing contributing to the timing chains being disconnected. Online they mention about the oil pump bolt backing its way out and the timing chains becoming disconnected. When we purchased the car it was used and had 70,000 miles and one owner and when this happened it had 120,000 and according to our research this oil pump bolt issue occurs usually between 70,000 and 100,000 in the 2006 and 2007 vw passat 3.6. If vw knew these bolts were coming out they should have issued a recall. Vw knew this was an issue.

Filed Jun 2, 2014 · Acceleration, Driver assistance · 119,000 miles · FM

I purchased a 2006 passat 3.6 on february 20th,2014 and making payments on it. Two weeks later I had to take it back to the dealer because the idle was up and down. They charged me $700 because the car was as is. Once I got the car back I starter seeing the epc light which is a common issue with volkswagen and now the car wont go over 40mph , two weeks ago I saw smoke coming from under the hood and oil was all over the place and I cant locate any type of leak. Here a link of other passat owner with the same issue and as of now there's no recall on it, I am begging for you guys help http://www.carcomplaints.com/volkswagen/passat/2006/drivetrain/power_train.shtml.

Filed Jun 11, 2013 · Engine · 91,000 miles · CA · crash · fire

In stop and go traffic and traveling at an extremely slow speed, the vehicle bumped into the rear of another vehicle. The contact ignited the vw passat into flames destroying the entire vehicle. Importantly, the other vehicle involved has zero damage as the bump was extremely light. We are aware the model year 2006 vw passat has a history of this occurring in front end collisions. We strongly request and recommend a recall be demanded of vw.

Filed Oct 28, 2009 · Engine · 14,000 miles · ME · fire

Tl* the contact owns a 2006 volkswagen passat. While starting the vehicle the engine coil for the spark plug made a rattling noise. He smelled an electrical odor, then the engine stalled. After turning the vehicle off, smoke was released from the coil itself. He used a fire extinguisher to extinguish the flames. The dealer was contacted, and they stated that they wanted to buy the vehicle back from him and give him credit to another vehicle. The vehicle has been at the dealer for about 2 weeks now and they are waiting for permission from the manufacture volkswagen to diagnose the vehicle. The dealer was waiting for him to accept. The offer to buy the vehicle back. The failure and current mileages were 14000.

Filed Oct 9, 2008 · Electrical · 18,000 miles · CA · fire

I had a 2006 passat that I bought new in nov. 2006. The car caught fire after I parked it at work. No warning lights came on while driving it and I maintained my car. My car is totaled and the fire was in the engine compartment. I am now without a car.

Filed Sep 16, 2008 · Electrical · 37,535 miles · NY · fire

While driving, the car began hesitating and the "check engine" light began flashing. Upon pulling over and opening the hood, the top-rear passenger side of the engine was glowing red and within 30 seconds or so burst into flames. The fire was extinguished by an off-duty volunteer fireman who arrived prior to the fire department. Subsequent review by the fire department and the insurance company found the ignition coil was the origin and cause of the fire. Perhaps this is similar to the federal safety agency action number : ea07014, however that action only covered 1999-2005 passats; this is a 2006 passat.