AT 4:20PM ON 5/28/02 MY WIFE WAS ON INTERSTATE 95 NEAR GEORGETOWN, MA ON THE WAY TO THE DEALERSHIP IN AMESBUY FOR SERVICE BECAUSE THE CAR'S AIRCONDITIONER HAD QUIT AND SOME OF THE DASHBOARD INDICATOR LIGHTS WOULD NOT STOP FLASHING. SUDDENLY SHE SAW SMOKE IN THE REARVIEW MIRROR AND PULLED THE CAR OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THEN MORE SMOKE CAME FROM UNDER THE HOOD, SO SHE GOT OUT OF THE CAR. MINUTES LATER THE CAR WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES AND BLACK SMOKE. TEN MINUTES LATER IT WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED. THE GEORGETOWN FIRE DEPARTMENT AND STATE POLICE HAD RESPONDED, BUT BY THE TIME THEY GOT THERE, THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. WE HAVE NOT CONTACTED VOLKSWAGEN DIRECTLY BECAUSE WE FEEL THEY WOULD NOT BE RESPONSIVE. MAYBE THE INSURANCE COMPANY OR THE NHTSA CAN FORCE THE MANUFACTURER TO LOOK INTO THIS, SINCE THIS SEEMS TO BE HAPPENING TO OTHER 2000 BEETLES AS WELL, AND SOONER OR LATER SOMEONE WILL BE SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED BECAUSE OF THIS APPARENT DEFECT.*AK