# 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
> NHTSA complaint `631374` · 2007-07-21 · Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
## Severity
- **Deaths:** 0
- **Injured:** 1
- **Fire:** Yes
- **Crash:** No
- **Police report:** Yes
- **Medical attention:** No
- **Vehicle towed:** No
## Vehicle
- **Make:** VOLKSWAGEN
- **Model:** PASSAT
- **Year:** 2003
- **Manufacturer:** Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
- **Component:** ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
- **Miles at failure:** 35,000
## Narrative
DRIVER WAS ON DAILY COMMUTE TO WORK, STOPPED AT AN INTERSECTION.  A LOUD BANG WAS HEARD BY THE DRIVER AND WHEN THE DRIVER EXITED THE CAR TO SEE WHAT HAD HAPPENED, A BYSTANDER IMMEDIATELY YELLED TOWARD THE DRIVER TO WARN THEM THAT THE CAR WAS ON FIRE.  DRIVER WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT OUT OF CAR SAFELY, WITH MINOR INJURIES INCURRED AS A RESULT OF TRYING TO PUT OUT THE FIRE.  THE FIRE ITSELF WAS LIMITED TO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, HOWEVER AS A RESULT THE ENTIRE ENGINE AND ENGINE COMPARTMENT WERE DESTROYED AND THE CAR WAS CONSIDERED A TOTAL LOSS BY INSURANCE.  SINCE THE DEFECTIVE COMPONENT(S) AND SURROUNDING AREA INVOLVED IN THE DEFECT WERE COMPLETELY DESTROYED, THERE WAS NO PARTS TO REPAIR OR REPLACE. *JB
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*Source: [NHTSA ODI](https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/downloads/) · AI Analytics · CC0 1.0*