# 1998 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
> NHTSA complaint `505939` · 2004-11-09 · 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:** NEW BEETLE
- **Year:** 1998
- **Manufacturer:** Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
- **Component:** ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
- **Miles at failure:** 95,000
- **Speed:** 25 mph
## Narrative
1998 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE SEVERELY OVERHEATED, CHECKING OUT CAUSE FOUND THE FUSE BOX ON TOP OF THE BATTERY HOUSING HAD MELTED.  THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED A MAJOR FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT!  VWOA REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THERE IS A PROBLEM ALTHOUGHT INTERNET SURVEYS SHOW 26% FAILURE IN NEW BEETLES.  PLACEMENT OF THE FUSE BOX ON THE BATTERY HOUSING  DOES NOT SOUND LIKE A VERY SAFE IDEA!*AK
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*Source: [NHTSA ODI](https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/downloads/) · AI Analytics · CC0 1.0*