NHTSA Complaint #10652651 — 2009 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN

I WAS DRIVING ON ROLLING ROAD (NORTH) TOWARD OLD KEEN MILL ROAD IN SPRINGFIELD, VIRGINIA AROUND 4:05 PM ON NOVEMBER 4, 2014 (TUESDAY). I SAW THE SMOKE COMING OUT NEAR THE HOOD IN THE FRONT WHILE WAITING FOR TRAFFIC LIGHT, SO I PULLED OVER TO THE PARKING LOT NEAR A GAS STATION. I SAW PEOPLE WAVED TO ME, AND YELLED AT ME TO STOP, I GOT OFF MY CAR AND THEY TOLD ME MY CAR WAS ON FIRE AT THE BOTTOM, WE BEND DOWN AND LOOKED THE BOTTOM OF THE VEHICLE, AND SAW THE FIRE BURNING ON THE MATERIAL HANGING DOWN. FORTUNATELY, A DRIVER RAN OVER CARRYING A FIRE EXTINGUISHER FROM HIS CAR, AND A PERSON FROM THE GAS STATION ALSO BROUGHT ANOTHER FIRE EXTINGUISHER, THEY SPREAD THE FIRE EXTINGUISHER TO PUT OUT THE FIRE. I COULD NOT WAIT FOR THE TOW TRUCK, SO I CAREFULLY DROVE THE CAR TO THE VW DEALERSHIP IN FAIRFAX, VIRGINIA. THE MECHANIC LIFTED UP THE CAR AND TOOK DOWN THE BURNED LOWER ENGINE COVER, AND FIGURED THAT IT WAS BECAUSE MANY DRIED LEAVES STUCK NEAR THE ENGINE AND THE HIGH HEAT NEAR THE ENGINE CAUSING THE LEAVES TO FIRE UP AND BURN THE LOWER ENGINE COVER. I'VE SAVED THIS LOWER ENGINE COVER IN MY TRUNK, AND HAVE REPORTED THIS SAFETY INCIDENT TO THE VW CUSTOMER SERVICE. THE CASE WAS DOCUMENTED AND A CASE # [XXX] WAS ASSIGNED. I REPORT THIS INCIDENT TO NHTSA FOR THE SAFETY CONCERN BECAUSE THIS NON-FIRE-RESISTANT MATERIAL CAN CAUSE THE LIFE OF THE DRIVERS AND PASSENGERS. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR