# 1997 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
> NHTSA complaint `245870` · 2000-09-30 · Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
## Severity
- **Deaths:** 0
- **Injured:** 0
- **Fire:** Yes
- **Crash:** No
- **Police report:** No
- **Medical attention:** No
- **Vehicle towed:** No
## Vehicle
- **Make:** VOLKSWAGEN
- **Model:** GOLF
- **Year:** 1997
- **Manufacturer:** Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
- **Component:** ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
## Narrative
THE IGNITION BROKE IN APRIL 2000 & WAS REPLACED BY DEALER.  ON 9/1/2000, WHITE, ODORLESS SMOKE CAME FROM LEFT SIDE OF STEERING COLUMN.  ON 9/18/2000, BROWN SMELLY SMOKE CAME FROM SAME AREA.  CAR TOWED TO DEALER.  DEALER KEPT FOR 3 DAYS, COULDN'T FIND PROBLEM, SAID CAR WAS SAFE.  ON 9/24/2000, BROWN SMELLY SMOKE CAME FROM STEERING COLUMN ON 3 OCCASIONS.  CAR TOWED TO DEALER.  DEALER KEPT CAR FIVE DAYS, COULDN'T FIND PROBLEM.  THE CAR IS NOW AT ANOTHER REPAIR PLACE.  I AM TERRIFIED TO DRIVE THIS CAR.  I THINK THE PROBLEM IS DIRECTLY CAUSED BY THE IGNITION REPLACEMENT.  VERY UNHAPPY WITH DEALER AND VW USA.
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*Source: [NHTSA ODI](https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/downloads/) · AI Analytics · CC0 1.0*