NHTSA complaint: 2002 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT — FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
I PUT GASOLINE IN MY CAR. I BEGAN SMELLING GASOLINE AND NOTICED THE FUEL METER HADN'T REGISTERED THE INCREASE IN FUEL. I WAS STOPPED AT A STOP LIGHT AT THIS POINT. I HEARD A BIG BOOM AND THEN PEOPLE AROUND ME WERE SHOUTING AT ME TO "GET OUT OF THE CAR". I LOOKED TO THE RIGHT AND NOTICED FLAMES SHOOTING UP THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE CAR. I JUMPED OUT OF THE DRIVERS SEAT TO SAFETY. A GOOD SAMARITAN WAS ABLE TO GRAB A FIRE EXTINGUISHER FROM A NEAR BY BUSINESS; AND ANOTHER PERSON CAME RUNNING OUT OF A NEARBY BUSINESS WITH ANOTHER AND THE WERE ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THE FLAMES WERE PRIMARILY UNDER THE VEHICLE AND TOWARD THE PASSENGER SIDE. POLICE AND FIRE PERSONNEL ARRIVED ON SCENE. MADE SURE FIRE WAS COMPLETELY OUT; THEN PUSHED CAR TO SAFETY. A TOW TRUCK WAS CALLED, AS MY CAR WAS COMPLETELY UN-DRIVABLE (ALL THE BELTS, HOSES WERE MELTED, INCLUDING THE BRAKE CABLE). THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER (ALSO A MECHANIC) TOLD ME THAT THE FUEL INJECTOR HAD EXPLODED. HE THEN SAID IT WAS A DEFECT; A MANUFACTURER ISSUE. *TR
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — Office of Defects Investigation