A FIRE OCCURRED IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT OF MY 2000 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT 4MOTION WAGON. THE FIRE OCCURRED WHILE I WAS TRAVELING EAST ON US 80 NEAR AUBURN. MY LIFE WAS SAVED BECAUSE A COUNTY SHERIFF WAS TRAVELING BEHIND ME AND SUMMONED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND POLICE AS I HURRIED TO EXIT CA 49 AT AUBURN, CALIFORNIA. FLAMES AND SMOKE FILLED THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT, WHICH THE FIRE DEPARTMENT FLOODED. THE CAR HAS BEEN TOTALED. I HAVE INSTRUCTED MY INSURANCE COMPANY, AAA, NOT TO DESTROY THE CAR FOR PARTS IN LIGHT OF THE VW SAFETY RECALL 26E5/RF (1999-2002 MODEL YEAR VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT AND PASSAT WAGON.) I INCURRED CONSIDERABLE EXPENSE (CAR RENTALS OVER THE SIX MONTHS THAT AAA INSURANCE TOOK TO SETTLE THE CLAIM). I HAVE ALSO HAD TO PURCHASE A NEW VEHICLE AT A COST TO ME OF MORE THAT $25,000 OVER THE PAID CLAIM. I WOULD LIKE TO BE MADE WHOLE, FOLLOWING THIS COSTLY AND EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND AAA DETERMINED THAT THE FIRE WAS AN ELECTRICAL FIRE THAT BEGAN IN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM BEHIND THE DASHBOARD IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. MARY COADY *TR