# 1998 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
> NHTSA complaint `817542` · 2010-09-30 · 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:** BEETLE
- **Year:** 1998
- **Manufacturer:** Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
- **Component:** ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
- **Miles at failure:** 136,000
- **Speed:** 55 mph
## Narrative
TL*  THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE TEMPERATURE LIGHT BEGAN BEEPING, THEN SUDDENLY STOPPED BEEPING AND A RED LIGHT BEGAN FLASHING. THE CONTACT NOTICED A THUMP UNDER THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL SO SHE STOPPED THE VEHICLE ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY. SHE ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO THE RIGHT SIDE, BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START, SO SHE COASTED OVER TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY. WHEN THE HOOD WAS OPENED, THERE WERE FLAMES ERUPTING AND THE ENTIRE VEHICLE WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED BUT NO REPORT WAS FILED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 136,000.
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*Source: [NHTSA ODI](https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/downloads/) · AI Analytics · CC0 1.0*