# 2003 VOLKSWAGEN GTI — EXTERIOR LIGHTING
> NHTSA complaint `668905` · 2008-05-08 · 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:** GTI
- **Year:** 2003
- **Manufacturer:** Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
- **Component:** EXTERIOR LIGHTING
- **Miles at failure:** 45,000
- **Speed:** 35 mph
## Narrative
NOTICED A SMELL AS I WAS DRIVING. GLANCE OUT WINDOW & NOTICED MY BACK LIGHT WAS ON FIRE. PULLED OVER , AND TRIED TO EXTINGUISH IT WITH A SHIRT. ALMOST HAD IT OUT, BUT COULDN'T QUITE EXTINGUISH IT. WITHIN 10 MINUTES THE CAR WAS TOTALLY ENGULFED IN FLAMES. I HAD TO STAND THERE AND WATCH MY CAR BURN.  IT TOOK TWO FIRE TRUCKS TO EXTINGUISH IT AND I ENDED UP WITH BURNT HANDS( FROM MELTING RUBBER STICKING TO MY SKIN) ,  TRYING TO SMOTHER IT.  HOW COULD SOMETHING LIKE THIS HAPPEN FROM A BACK LIGHT?  I HAVE HAD THE CAR LESS THAN  1 YEAR. IT WAS IN PERFECT CONDITION, WITH ONLY ABOUT 45,000 MILES ON IT.  I AM OUT A CAR, WITH NO RECOURSE!  I FOUND THAT THERE WAS A RECALL BACK IN APRIL 2007, PRIOR TO MY OWNING THIS VEHICLE.  ALTHOUGH , THEIR RECALL MAKES NO MENTION OF THE CAR BURSTING IN FLAMES! THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM THAT NEEDS TO BE LOOKED INTO!  I AM LUCKY THAT I SAW THE FIRE WHEN I DID, OR I COULD HAVE BEEN HURT EVEN WORSE THAN I WAS.  I AM A CARPENTER AND NEED MY CAR TO GET TO MY JOBS.   I AM OUT A CAR, LOST A DAY OF WORK, AND  NOW AM WORKING WITH BANDAGED HANDS, AND THE WORST THING IS...I CALLED VOLKSWAGEN AND GOT SYMPATHY, AND AN OFFER TO PAY MY MEDICAL BILL, BUT I AM STILL OUT A CAR!  ARE THEY KIDDING?  THIS IS A SERIOUS ELECTRICAL PROBLEM!  WHAT IF I HAD MY GRANDCHILD IN THE BACK SEAT OF THAT CAR?  ONCE THE HEADLINER CAUGHT FLAMES, IT WAS ALL OVER.  FLAMES WERE 20 FEET IN THE AIR!  *TR
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*Source: [NHTSA ODI](https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/downloads/) · AI Analytics · CC0 1.0*