NHTSA Complaint #10616861 — 2009 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT

I STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN, THE CAR ACCELERATED NORMALLY AND AFTER A FEW MINUTES THE ENGINE SPUTTERED, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED, AND THE BATTERY LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE ENGINE QUIT. ATTEMPTS TO RESTART THE ENGINE FAILED. I WAS LOCATED AT AN INTERSECTION AND PUSHED THE CAR OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE ENGINE AND NOTICED AN AROMA OF BURNING PLASTIC. I OPENED THE HOOD AND THERE WAS SMOKE EMANATING UNDER THE TOP ENGINE COVER, TOP LH SIDE VIEWED FROM THE FRONT TO THE REAR. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION I NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A FIRE UNDER THE COVER. I REMOVED THE COVER AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE #1 IGNITION COIL HARNESS WAS MELTED FROM THE FIRE AND ASSOCIATED FIRE DAMAGE WAS NOTED ON THE INSIDE OF THE ENGINE COVER ABOVE THE ENGINE COIL LOCATION. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND THEY CONFIRMED THAT THE FAILURE OF THE #1 ENGINE COIL WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE. I REPORTED THE INCIDENT IN DETAIL TO THE VOLKSWAGEN AMERICA CUSTOMER SUPPORT AS SOON AS I RETURNED HOME. VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY UNDERGOING REPAIRS TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE ITEMS. I WAS TOLD THERE WERE NO CURRENT RECALLS IN EFFECT. I WENT TO THE NHTSA WEBSITE AND FOUND THAT THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN PREVIOUSLY INVESTIGATED AND NO RECALL WAS ISSUED AT THE TIME. I FELT OBLIGATED TO REPORT THIS INCIDENT AS IT PERTAINS TO PUBLIC SAFETY. *JS