# 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
> NHTSA complaint `647488` · 2007-11-26 · 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:** PASSAT
- **Year:** 2003
- **Manufacturer:** Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
- **Component:** ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
- **Miles at failure:** 82,000
## Narrative
WE WERE DRIVING UP TO THE BASE OF THE PALM SPRINGS TRAM ON A COOL DAY AT A RELATIVELY SLOW RATE OF SPEED AND PARKED AT THE VALLEY STATION.  THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE WAS APPARENTLY OPERATING NORMALLY DURING THE ENTIRE DRIVE.  A FEW MINUTES AFTER PARKING, WE NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD OF THE CAR, AND UPON OPENING THE HOOD DISCOVERED THE FIRE.  SINCE TRAM SECURITY WAS THERE WITH A FIRE EXTINGUISHER, THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED RELATIVELY QUICKLY.  THE INSULATION WAS BURNED AND THE CAR WAS NOT ABLE TO BE DRIVEN ANY FURTHER.  IT WAS TOWED TO INDIO, CA.  *TR
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*Source: [NHTSA ODI](https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/downloads/) · AI Analytics · CC0 1.0*