NHTSA Complaint #10127884 — 2004 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF

DT: THE CONSUMER STATES THAT ON JUNE 30, 2005, HIS VEHICLE BURNED TO THE GROUND, VW 2004 TURBO DIESEL GOLF. THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY, THE CONSUMER STARTED SMELLING SMOKE. A FEW MINUTES LATER THE VEHICLE WAS FILLED WITH SMOKE AND THE CONSUMER COULD NOT SEE. THE CONSUMER STOPPED THE CAR IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD AND JUMPED OUT OF THE CAR. AFTER THE CONSUMER RAN AWAY FROM THE VEHICLE, HE TURNED AROUND TO SEE THE VEHICLE ENGULFED IN FLAMES FROM THE BACK SEATS. THERE WAS ALSO A CASE OF OIL BEHIND THE BACK SEAT, WHICH THE CONSUMER STATES THAT MAY HAVE SPREAD THE FIRE. THERE WERE NO PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT. THE CONSUMER HAD ONLY OWED THE VEHICLE A FEW MONTHS. ALL OF THE OWNERS PAPERWORK FROM THE CAR WAS IN THE VEHICLE WHEN IT BURNED. THE CONSUMER HAS SPOKEN TO THE DEALER BRIEFLY, BUT THEY DID NOT KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THE PROBLEM, OR HAD NOT HEARD OF THAT HAPPENING BEFORE. THE CAR IS A COMPLETE AND TOTAL LOSS NOW. THE CAR WAS COMPLETELY ENGULFED WITHIN A MINUTE OR TWO AFTER THE OWNER ESCAPED. *JB