THIS IS A 2003 PASSAT V6. I HAVE 115,000 MILES ON THE CAR AND THE CAR HAS BEEN MAINTAINED BY A CERTIFIED VW TECHNICIAN SINCE I HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE. THIS IS MY SECOND PASSAT, THE FIRST WAS A 2001.5 "NEW PASSAT". I HAD NO PROBLEMS WITH THAT CAR AND LITTLE TO KNOW PROBLEMS WITH MY CURRENT 2003. HOWEVER, AFTER TURNING THE CAR OFF, IT ALWAYS SOUNDED AS THOUGH A FAN MOTOR WOULD CONTINUOUSLY RUN FOR WELL OVER 15 MINUTES AFTER THE CAR WAS TURNED OFF. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR APPROX. 6 MONTHS. ON THE DATE OF INCIDENT, I HAD DRIVEN HOME FROM WORK, PULLED INTO MY DRIVEWAY, AND WENT INTO THE HOUSE. THANKFULLY, THE LAWN WAS LONG, SO I IMMEDIATELY WENT OUT TO CUT THE LAWN AFTER CHANGING MY CLOTHES. JUST IN THAT TIME, MAYBE 5-10 MINUTES THE MOST, I CAME OUT AND NOTICED THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I POPPED THE HOOD AND LOOKED INTO THE ENGINE BAY TO SEE FLAMES ON THE LOWER BOTTOM OF THE ENGINE. IT WAS ON THE LEFT SIDE IF YOU WERE LOOKING INTO THE ENGINE BAY AND TOWARD THE FRONT. IT SMELLED OF BURNING PLASTIC AND METAL. THERE WAS ACTUALLY FLAMES, WHICH I PULLED OUT MYSELF WITH A FIRE EXTINGUISHER AND A LAWN HOSE. I DID GET A POLICE REPORT OF THE INCIDENT AND CONTINUED TO SEARCH ONLINE FOR OTHER ISSUES OF THE SAME SORT. THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM, AND IN SOME EVENTS, THEY EVEN MENTION THE ONGOING FAN SOUND. I FEEL THIS IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO BE LOOKED INTO. I WAS LUCKY, THANKS TO A LONG LAWN, BUT I COULD HAVE LOST MY CAR, AND MY HOME, BECAUSE THE CAR WAS PARK