ON THE MORNING OF JANUARY 26, 2006 I DROVE MY 2003 VW PASSAT AT SHORT DISTANCE (APPROX) 3 MILES. AS I ARRIVED AT MY DESTINATION AND PULLED INTO A PARKING PLACE THE CAR DIED ON ME. THERE DID NOT APPEAR TO BE ANYTHING THAT PRECIPITATED THE FAILURE. I DID NOT UNDERSTAND WHAT HAPPENED BUT I SOON BEGAN TO SMELL SMOKE. I GOT OUT OF THE CAR, OPENED THE HOOD AND SAW THAT THERE WAS A FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. FROM THE FRONT OF THE CAR, FACING THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, THE FIRE WAS LOCATED TOWARD THE UPPER LEFT-HAND CORNER OF THE COMPARTMENT NEAR THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE. THE FIRE WAS FAIRLY FAR ALONG BEFORE THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED. ULTIMATELY, THE CAR WAS TOTALED BY MY INSURANCE COMPANY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED WITH THE LOCAL POLICE, A CLAIM WAS FILED WITH MY INSURANCE COMPANY AND A COMPLAINT WAS FILED WITH VOLKSWAGEN CUSTOMER SERVICE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES OR DAMAGE TO ANY OTHER PROPERTY. THE CAR WAS LESS THAN THREE YEARS OLD WITH ABOUT 27,500 MILES. THE INSURANCE INVESTIGATION CLEARED ME OF PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY BUT DID NOT DETERMINE A CAUSE FOR THE FIRE. I EVENTUALLY SETTLED WITH MY INSURANCE COMPANY AND TURNED THE CAR OVER TO THEM. I HAVE HEARD NOTHING FURTHER UNTIL A FRIEND GAVE ME AN AP ARTICLE FROM 10/4/07 THAT REPORTED NHTSA INVESTIGATIONS OF ENGINE FIRES IN PASSATS. *TR