NHTSA Complaint #10181694 — 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT

MY 2003 VW PASSAT GL SEDAN SPUTTERED, STALLED AND SUBSEQUENTLY CAUGHT FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AROUND 6:30 PM, JAN 26TH, 2007, IN HOLMDEL NJ, POLICE REPORT # 07-1914 HOLMDEL POLICE DEPT. THE CAR HAS BEEN MAINTAINED WELL BY A LOCAL VW DEALER SINCE PURCHASE AND THERE HAS BEEN NO MODIFICATIONS MADE, NOR ANY SIGNS OF TROUBLE PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. THE FIRE WAS VERY EXTENSIVE AND PUT OUT BY HOLMDEL NJ FIRE DEPT AND THE CAR IS TOTALED. THE SYMPTOM JUST PRIOR TO STALLING IS CONSISTENT WITH IGNITION COIL FAILURE WHICH WAS RECALLED BY VW UNTIL 2002 MODEL YEAR, I.E., ENGINE WARNING LIGHTS, SPUTTERING, SMOKES UNDER HOOD AND THOUGH EXHAUST AND FINAL STALL. THE ENGINE STALL NEARLY CAUSED COLLISION DUE TO THE LOSS OF STEERING BOOST AND THE FIRE WAS RAPID AND LARGE. THUS, I FEAR A LESS FORTUNATE COMBINATION OF CIRCUMSTANCE MAY LEAD TO INJURY OR WORSE TO OTHER PASSENGERS OF CARS WITH VW/AUDI 1.8T ENGINES SUCH AS PASSAT, ZETA, A4, GOLF, ETC.. *NM