# 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
> NHTSA complaint `783146` · 2010-04-22 · Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
## Severity
- **Deaths:** 0
- **Injured:** 0
- **Fire:** Yes
- **Crash:** No
- **Police report:** Yes
- **Medical attention:** No
- **Vehicle towed:** No
## Vehicle
- **Make:** VOLKSWAGEN
- **Model:** PASSAT
- **Year:** 2003
- **Manufacturer:** Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
- **Component:** ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- **Miles at failure:** 92,000
## Narrative
ON APRIL 20, 2010 MY 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSATS CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AT AROUND 4:45 PM.  I IMMEDIATELY CALLED THE PLACE WHO DOES ALL MY REPAIR WORK, AND WAS TOLD I COULD DROP OFF THE CAR THAT NIGHT, AND THEY WOULD CHECK IT OUT THE FOLLOWING MORNING.  I ARRIVED AT THE LOCATION AROUND 5:10, PARKED THE CAR AND WENT TO PLACE MY KEY IN THE NIGHT DROP BOX.  WHEN I WALKED BACK TO THE CAR I SAW SMOKE COMING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD.  I RAISED THE HOOD AND SAW FLAMES COMING FROM WHAT LOOKED LIKE UNDER THE BACK OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT.  THEN I NOTICED THAT THERE WERE FLAMES COMING OUT FROM UNDER THE DASHBOARD INSIDE THE CAR.  I CALLED 911 AND RAN TO A NEARBY GAS STATION TO GET A FIRE EXTINGUISHER.  WHEN I GOT BACK TO THE CAR THERE WERE FLAMES VISIBLE INSIDE THE CAR.  I USED THE ENTIRE FIRE EXTINGUISHER AND IT DID NOT EVEN PHASE THE FIRE.  WITHIN 1 MINUTE THE ENTIRE CAR WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES.  THE FIRE DEPT. ARRIVED WITHIN 6 MINUTES AND THE CAR WAS GONE. *TR
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*Source: [NHTSA ODI](https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/downloads/) · AI Analytics · CC0 1.0*