# 1998 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
> NHTSA complaint `529852` · 2005-04-06 · 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:** BEETLE
- **Year:** 1998
- **Manufacturer:** Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
- **Component:** ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
- **Miles at failure:** 58,650
- **Speed:** 60 mph
## Narrative
I OWN A 1998 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE.  ABOUT A YEAR AGO THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED AND I WAS LOCKED IN MY CAR.  FORTUNATELY I WAS ABLE TO GET OUT USING A NEW REMOTE I HAD JUST PURCHASED.*AK    SECONDLY, TWO DAYS AGO I WAS DRIVING ON AN INTERSTATE, IT WAS WARM, AND I TURNED ON THE FAN.  IT IMMEDIATELY STARTED BLOWING 'HIGH' AND WOULDN'T TURN OFF.  WITHIN A MINUTE THE DASHBOARD BEGAN SMOKING AND THERE WAS A DISTINCT ELETRICAL SMELL.  I STOPPED, RAISED THE HOOD AND THERE WAS NO FIRE.  THE FAN STUCK IN THE 'HIGH' POSITION AND CAUSED A FIRE WHICH 'TOTALLED' THE CAR.  THE DASH AND SEATS MELTED AND THE FRONT WINDSHIELD BROKE OUT FROM THE FLAMES.
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*Source: [NHTSA ODI](https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/downloads/) · AI Analytics · CC0 1.0*