2008 Volkswagen Passat: fire, smoke or burning smell

Filed Sep 21, 2014 · Engine · 88,752 miles · FL · fire

Smelled smoke in cabin of car stopped car on interstate I-4. Smoke coming from under hood. Lifted hold to see oil all over engine and exhaust. Had tow to dealer where it was confirmed as a rear main seal defect due to not beading the seal at the factory. Fire hazard!!!!!!!!

Filed May 7, 2014 · Body, Electrical · 150,000 miles · VA · fire

We came home from a 30 mile trip and parked the car in the driveway. Went in the house and about 5 minutes later heard a big pop sound. I think is was a tire exploding and found the entire engine on fire. Another popping sound occurred and another tire blew. On the drive home there were no problems noted on the dash board. When we got out of the car there were no odors or indication of a fire. My keys were in the house at the time of the fire. Other issues that might be related. This past week my charger got extremely hot to touch and I stopped using it. I also felt the car try to start after I turned it off.

Filed Jun 5, 2012 · Engine · 40,000 miles · IL · fire

While parked in the lot, the engine area caught on fire and burned the front half of the car before the fire department put it out.

Filed Jul 28, 2010 · Engine · 42,000 miles · TX · fire

The vehicle was parked in the parking garage after being driven at lunch and within approximately 15-30 minutes of owner having turned off the vehicle the garage attendant reported smelling smoke. According to an eyewitness, there was smoldering smoke coming from under the hood and within a minute or so of discovering the smoke an explosion took place under the hood and the entire front hood compartment was engulfed in flames. The fire department was able to put out the fire but the vehicle is a total loss.

Filed Feb 10, 2010 · Electrical, Seats · NH · fire · 1 injury

2008 vw passat wagon. This car while parked, running and occupied, in a garage had a fire whose point of origin was the area of the driver's seat. The fire investigation determined the cause to be accidental mechanical. The fire caused significant damage to a single family home, damage estimated at about $200,000 also one occupant of the home had to be transported by ems for smoke inhalation. The driver of the car stated she to leave. She placed the 5 year old in the child seat of the volkswagen and opened the garage door. She started the car and smelt smoke. Immediately shut the car off and called the husband. The husband said that it was probably the seat heater, had her turn off the seat heater and restart the car. She restarted the car smelt and observed smoke again, turned off the car, got out and saw flame underneath the driver's seat. She removed the daughter from the car and took her out to the driveway. She then went back into the garage and removed a gas can from the area of the car/snowblower. She again re-entered the garage and opened the other garage door (both now open) observed flames shooting out of the drivers door of the car. She exited the garage through an interior door, closing it behind her. She then went up into the house removed two dogs to a crate on the deck. In the meantime a neighbor had grabbed the little girl. While all this was happening the mother placed three frantic 911 calls. The owner of the car stated he had had problems with the heated seats in the past and that they had been repaired twice. The last time in november of 2009. The derry fire department has completed its fire investigation, and the car is being turned over to the insurance companies (state farm and liberty mutual).