NHTSA Complaint #11279947 — 2013 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA SPORTWAGEN

ON A COLD MORNING, I STARTED MY CAR BY TURNING THE KEY IN THE IGNITION, THEN LOCKED THE DOORS MANUALLY FROM THE EXTERIOR WITH ANOTHER KEY, IN ORDER TO ALLOW THE CAR TO WARM UP AND DEFROST BEFORE THE COMMUTE TO WORK. WHEN I RETURNED 10 MINUTES LATER, THE CAR WAS EMITTING GRAY SMOKE FROM THE HOOD, AND UPON OPENING THE DRIVER'S DOOR, I DISCOVERED THAT THE ENTIRE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE WAS FILLED WITH GRAY SMOKE AS WELL. I REACHED IN AND REMOVED THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION, THEN LEFT THE VEHICLE WITH THE DRIVER DOOR OPEN TO ALLOW THE SMOKE TO AIR OUT. ONCE THE SMOKE CLEARED, I WAS ABLE TO SEE THAT THE DASH NEAR THE DRIVER'S SEAT HAD COMPLETELY MELTED, THE CEILING HAD BURNED, THE WINDSHIELD HAD SHATTERED, AND SEVERAL OTHER DASHBOARD COMPONENTS WERE MELTED AND/OR MISSING. I NEVER WITNESSED FLAME, AND I CONTACTED 911 IMMEDIATELY TO HAVE POLICE AND/OR FIRE DISPATCHED TO MY HOME TO ENSURE THE SITUATION WAS RESOLVED. A SINGLE OFFICER ARRIVED AND ADVISED THAT WITH NO INDICATION OF CRIMINALITY, I NEED ONLY CONTACT MY INSURANCE AGENT, WHICH I DID.