NHTSA Complaint #11210866 — 2008 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA

I TURNED MY CAR COMPLETELY OFF AND THE CAR WAS PARKED WHEN I GOT OUT OF MY CAR TO MEET WITH A FRIEND TO GO SWIMMING AT THIS NEIGHBORHOOD POOL. I HAD MY KEYS IN MY HAND (STILL DO HAVE THE KEY AS WELL) AND I SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING, SO I TURNED AROUND AND THERE WAS SMOKE COMING OUT OF MY SUNROOF. I LOOKED IN THE CAR AND SAW THAT IT WAS A FIRE IN MY BACKSEAT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE (ALSO WHERE THE GAS TANK IS LOCATED) AND SAW THE FIRE SPREADING. THEREFORE, I RAN AWAY FROM THE CAR, YELLED FOR HELP AND CALLED 911. WITHIN THREE MINUTES MY CAR WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES AND POPPED A FEW TIMES AS WELL. THE FIRE ALSO CAUGHT THE GRASS, A FEW BUSHES AND TREES ON FIRE AS WELL. THE FIREFIGHTERS CAME TO PUT THE FIRE OUT AND INFORMED ME THAT THE FIRE STARTED IN MY ENGINE AND TRAVELED FROM THERE TO THE GAS TANK AND SPREAD FROM THERE.