NHTSA Complaint #10138272 — 2003 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA

DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN JETTY. THE CONTACT STATED S DASHBOARD CONTROL SYSTEM CAUGHT ON FIRE. LAST NIGHT WAS DRIVING ON HIGHWAY SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING. WAS NOT SURE WHAT IT WAS. GOT CLOSE TO HOME AND SMOKE WAS COMING OUT OF THE DASHBOARD. BY THE TIME SHE GOT WITHIN A BLOCK OF THE HOUSE THE DASHBOARD WAS ON FIRE. HUSBAND CAME OUT WITH A FIRE EXTINGUISHER. HUSBAND USED EXTINGUISHER ON VEHICLE. CALLED FIRE DEPARTMENT AND POLICE DEPARTMENTS. THEY UNHOOKED THE BATTERY. FIRE DEPARTMENT GAVE ALL CLEAR, BUT NOT TO TRY TO DRIVE VEHICLE. THEY TOLD CONSUMER TO TAKE VEHICLE TO VOLKSWAGEN DEALER. THIS MORNING CALLED VOLKSWAGEN, AND WERE IN THE PROCESS OF SEEING WHAT THEY COULD DO. HUSBAND SUSTAINED RIGHT LEG INJURIES. CUSTOMER ALSO COMPLAINED OF EYES BURNING FROM SMOKE. POLICE DEPARTMENT AND FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORTS TAKEN. NO CRASHES. WE HAD JUST PICKED VEHICLE UP FROM THE DEALER.*AK